Image, Etiquette, and Protocol: Your Keys to Professionalism
Professionalism encompasses “Image Enhancement and Interpersonal Skill Development “. Knowing how to present yourself and manage any given situation with confidence is empowering! These are the tools that serve as your foundation and framework:
Image projects who you are through your appearance and body language.
Etiquette is a code of conduct that exemplifies consideration, respect, and harmony.
Protocol is a prescribed set of rules that guides your actions by removing distractions.
The following blogs share insights and knowledge covering professional image, business etiquette, and protocol. (For columns that discuss international protocol and cross-cultural training, visit our companion website: globalprotocolacademy.com)
Let’s Talk Small Talk
Small talk is “chitchat or sub-talk”. It’s a light informal conversation originally designed for social occasions then evolved into business circles. However, it is not popular in all cultures. Some find it a waste of time, while others find it an effective...
Ten Ways to Make Your Business Events Extraordinary
Event Strategies for Successful Business Entertaining provides ten ways to make your business events extraordinary and offers valuable insights on transitioning from an impeccable guest or spectator to a dynamic host or planner. Although I recommend the engagement of...
Nine Secrets for Casually Sipping and Formally Dining with Business Partners
People bond over food and beverage! Why? Because it bonds relationships, allows powerful connections, and creates a new experience. Our society has widely taken a casual approach to meetings over meals; however, that does not negate the importance of knowing formal...
Five Paths to Successful In Person and Online Networking
During my corporate intern seminars, I would often get questions from international students about the various ways Americans network. They are right, it is confusing. That was my inspiration to write a book on networking. There are a lot of networking books on the...
Seven Steps to Building an Image and Interaction Foundation
There are seven components that work together as a team and serve as your image and interaction foundation. Miss one step and you will continue to feel that something’s missing or wonder why your efforts are not working.
Protect Your Reputation
It can take 20 years to build a reputation for character and five minutes to ruin it.─Warren Buffet Online behavior ranges from social networking sites to opinionated blogs. Off-duty behavior ranges from social gatherings to peer-focused bashes. When people are...
There is no RIGHT way to do The WRONG thing.
Knowingly or unknowingly, some people cross an unethical line by justifying the action at the time. But justification does not make it right— “everybody does it so why shouldn’t I?”
Some question whether “getting away with it” is …
Ensure Tangle Free Interactions
There has been no time in history where clear, concise, and courteous communication has been more critical. Verbal, nonverbal, and written communication can be loaded with unintended pitfalls and can innocently derail any career or business strategy. How many times...
What is Your Professional Identity Trademark?
You have the license, the knowledge, and the determination, what could be missing? Something isn’t quite right. Have some key interaction steps been skipped, become sloppy, or taken for granted? The opportunities are just not coming to fruition. Perhaps your arsenal of business tools isn’t complete! If a mishap or awkward moment occurs …
Why and Where to Wear “Recognition” Pins
A recognition (or service) pin acknowledges that a member has served a notable number of years in an organization and that service is appreciated. It also says that the organization has successfully retained a member for a long period. This demonstrates that the...
January is International Mentoring Month
A mentor is someone who brings wisdom, support, and foresight to the less experienced (or challenged) person to help him or her grow personally and professionally.
A mentee is a person who is counseled by a mentor. However, the best arrangement is to take a cross-mentoring attitude …
How to Deal With Challenging Situations and People with Diplomacy and Civility
Ever wish that you could wave a magic wand and everyone would be respectful, civil, and accommodating? Unfortunately, uncertain times brings discontent and confusion. Thus, it is more important than ever to deal with people, situations, and one’s own behavior with diplomacy, dignity, finesse, tact, and civility, thereby setting the better example. These are powerful “win-win” words. Here we will revisit the basics of effective communication
When It’s Time to Celebrate, Be Mindful of Your Image!
It’s fun to celebrate the close of one year and the beginning of a new year with holiday parties. Whether your celebration plans are in the privacy of a home or at a public venue; be considerate, kind, and mindful of your behavior. You do not want to damage or deteriorate reputations. Tip #1: Respond to and honor
Good Fit Checklist
A good fit is critical and the paradigm of professional dress. A great-looking suit will lose its visual power if it does not fit perfectly. Furnishings (e.g., men’s hosiery, belt, tie or tie clip) or accessories (e.g., women’s jewelry, hosiery, belt, or scarf) add...
Business Meeting Tech Protocol
Do you find texting and taking calls at business meal meetings distracting and disrespectful? How about just plain rude? Unfortunately, the practice has gained traction over time and thus has become a part of
Global Civility Awareness Month
Do you ever wonder where all the National (or International) Awareness Month (or Day) notices are generated? The idea is to put a special focus or observance on humanity and/or a special historical moment.
Make every day a special awareness day! Start by
To “Regift” or Not to “Regift”
Are we so caught up in the need to recycle that we do the same with gifts? Simply stated, “regifting” refers to receiving a gift that you do not want and then pass it on as a gift to someone else — so as not to “waste” the gift. Depending upon how it is handled, it can be a good gesture or a hurtful experience. Certainly, much depends on the motive behind
Bon appétit! or not?
A discussion group recently posted that the phrase “Bon appétit” is no longer in vogue as a toast to begin a meal and, in fact, has not been for years. It seems that this rumor was started by a past edition of the New York Times. “Bon appétit” (literally, good appetite) is defined as: “A toast offered at the beginning of the meal to wish everyone a hearty appetite.” So why would one not want to
How to Overcome Sales Call Reluctance
Guest Columnist: Connie Kadansky, PCC, Sales Call Reluctance Coach …
You may be exceptional at what you do, but if nobody knows it outside your normal network, exciting new opportunities will elude you. Salespeople are not the only people who need to market themselves to win more visibility in their industry. Sales Call Reluctance can neutralize any career. Chip is five years into his career. He works for a small but powerful niche-market company. While he works long hours
Put your personal belongings in “airplane mode.”
How often have you walked into an auditorium, church, or banquet hall looking for an empty chair, only to find one occupied by a personal item that implied, “This seat is saved.” In truth, it was not actually being saved; it was just being used as a makeshift desk. But you continued to wander the aisles looking for seating. This is always awkward! If you are seated in
Preparing a Generation for the World Economy Workplace
Are you challenged or anticipate being challenged by the short attention span of the new Facebook generation? Society now refers to this generation (those born after 1995) as the Linkster Generation. Every generation brings a unique perspective to the workplace, and with that perspective comes a label (e.g., Generation X, Generation Y, Millenniums, Baby Boomers). Linksters reputedly spend most of their time developing
Traffic Jam in Cyberland?!?
We depend so much on technology to communicate. But are we depending on it too much for transmitting messages? Communicating is all about speed; the faster we can transmit or receive a message, the faster we want to. But there are hiccups. There is the spam box, for example. Sometimes good messages land in the
Holiday Tips for Greeting, Gifting, and Partying
Has time gotten away from you? In your “busyness” have you forgotten to show appreciation throughout this past year? It happens to all of us, and that is why the holiday season is the perfect time to reach out and show your appreciation—and you can do this effectively as a gesture or in the form of
Honor and Respect the President’s Position
The person who is president of the United States holds the highest and most powerful position in the world. Since 1776, the United States has felt that social manners, behavior, and attitude are so important to the business of our government that a team of top experts constantly advise our president in these matters. One of these experts is the
Are You Dating Your Smartphone?
That is what it looks like. How often have you attended an event and noticed people standing off to the sidelines engaged with their Smartphone? Sometimes they even gather in small groups to text and simply ignore everyone else. Have you experienced this? Or is this you? Unfortunately, smartphones and other hand-held technologies provide people…
Is Disrespect Too Prevalent?
Are campaign races making disrespect the norm? Candidates, unfortunately, have been using slander against their opponent forever in order to gain their competitive edge. However, it is also teaching disrespect and making it okay. I agree that we need to know if there is something shady
Mingle Your Way into Networking Success
Do you feel that your networking efforts are going nowhere? That might be because there are steps that keep getting skipped! For many the concept of in-person or online networking to secure job opportunities or achieve success is not readily understood or comfortable.