Six Figures Blog

Before delving into the topic of ‘who should have business cards’, it is important to take a brief look at the history of the business card. They began as ‘Visiting Cards’ in the French court in the 17th century and eventually evolved in the 19th century in the USA to become the business card of today. See ‘Business Card History’ for further information.For many cultures, particularly the Japanese there is a particular etiquette around how the business card is designed, presented and handled, such as outlined in Japanese Business Etiquette

There seems to be a certain status, attached to having a business card, particularly within organizations where some employees are deemed not worthy! The majority of businesses provide business cards to their senior staff and those in sales or client facing roles. However in today’s world of work, where organizations are focused on their ‘employer brand’ and creating the message of ‘we are a great place to work’ you have to ask yourself, should then not all staff be offered the option of having business cards. Employees are after all the ambassadors of the organizations and though day to day may not be meeting with clients – they are no doubt socializing and connecting with potential clients and employees. It also may be a telling sign if the uptake of cards is low, as perhaps the employees are not particularly proud of their organization and hence reluctant to publicize where they work!

A business card says who you are, what you do, your status, how to contact you and ultimately is a branding tool be it for yourself &/or your employer. It creates a certain perception. Although we communicate far more using technology the business card still seems to hold an important role in communications with others inside and outside the business setting. The tangible nature, the ceremony and the connectivity that comes from giving and receiving a business card is still very much a part of business today.

Given the growth and focus by employers on ‘employer branding’ combined with evolution of the concept of ‘personal branding’ should we perhaps have two business cards if we are an employee – one that represents our employer and the other the represents who we are and what we do separate to our employer. Particularly given the increasingly transitory nature of work these days and diminishing loyalty of organizations to employees, are we perhaps best to back ourselves and be promoting our own personal brand?

In the book by Paul Arden ‘It’s not how good you are, it’s how good you want to be’ page 64 and 65 look at the topic of “playing your cards right” which is very much about how we brand ourselves via our business cards and that the right language can create an entirely different perception. For instance, John Ranson, Pump Attendant to John C. Ranson, Petroleum Executive or Anthony Taylor, Architect to Anthony Taylor, Architects

The message from this as Arden so succinctly writes is “How you perceive yourself is how others will perceive you”

I believe that employees should have two business cards, irrespective of the position they hold within an organization. They should also invest in having their own business cards which represent their ‘personal brand’ and provide a contact point separate to their employer. It is a wise career management strategy, particularly when networking as none of us ever know what is around the corner and we all need to be creating our own career opportunities.

Share your views on the business card.

• Do you think they are still relevant?
• Should organizations offer them to all staff?
• Should we have our own separate business cards that promote our personal brand?
• What should go on our own personal business cards?