I had a meeting with someone today and was turned off by a behavior that I sometimes see from people as they are networking. We had chatted for a few minutes and the conversation was progressing normally. When we got to the part where we exchange business cards, he pulled out his card and casually tossed it across the table to me. It was very dismissive and it gave me an unfavorable impression of him and his business. I thought to myself, “wow… he doesn’t think much of his business.”

In Japan, where improper business card etiquette can kill a business deal, they show respect for the process of exchanging business cards and take great care to give this ceremony the attention is deserves. I often wish we were quicker to show that kind of respect in this country.

Whether you think about it or not, how you treat your business card says a lot to other people. Your business card is part of your brand. At the same time, similar respect should be shown to the other person’s business card.

Take a cue from the Japanese and think about this next time you exchange business cards. How you treat it reflects how you represent your business. Don’t throw it.