Latest "Etiquette Edge" Posts
December 29, 2014
As the year comes to a close, you’re probably thinking about New Year’s resolutions. And if it’s not top of your mind, it’s certainly a trending topic on the Internet, so there’s no escaping it. While this is the perfect time of year to set personal and professional standards and goals for the next 12 months, it’s also important to spend time reflecting and celebrating all that you’ve accomplished in the past year.
Every year between Christmas and New Year, I sit down and create a list of the 100 things I have accomplished over the past 12 months. It doesn’t matter the size of the accomplishment or outcome, I write it down. It usually takes me a few days to complete my year-end review and when I am done I am always amazed at how much I have accomplished and how much I have grown. Revisiting your blessings and accomplishments will also help you shine a light on the new standards and goals you wish to set in the coming year. Look at the list you created and think about the things that fired you up. Does your heart still leap when you think about how you felt giving that speech, running that marathon or landing that job? Whatever it was that you accomplished that made your heart jump for joy, do more of that in 2015!
As you set new standards and goals for 2015, I wish you much success in building a better you! Is it really all about hitting those targets? No, it’s really all about the person you become as you work toward those milestones.
Wishing you all the best for 2015. In the New Year may you be a lean, keen mingling machine.
Please feel free to contact me for support and guidance as you continue your journey to reaching your full potential!
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette
December 23, 2014
Here we are again, about to celebrate the holidays and launch into a brand new year! It’s amazing to me how fast time flies!
As you celebrate the holidays with family and friends, soak it all in. This time of year, more than ever, is a time when we are reminded of all the wonderful people who touch our lives throughout the year.
From home to home, and heart to heart,
From one place to another.
The warmth and joy of Christmas,
Brings us closer to each other.
My wish for you is this: peace and prosperity; health and happiness. I hope your holiday season is filled with love and laughter and that the new year brings you much success.
Happy holidays to you!
~ Margaret Page
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Posted by Margaret Page in Just for Fun
November 21, 2014
If you’re a woman, you’ve asked yourself this question: Where do I put my handbag while I eat? Or while I visit?
If you hang it on the chair, it’s easy pickings for a thief. Putting it on your lap is not comfortable and can get messy. So, what happens? Usually you put it on the floor by your feet, tucking it in so that the waiter doesn’t kick it around or trip over the strap! Am I right, ladies?
One of the things that was very prevalent when I journeyed this summer was that there was far more thought given to “purse etiquette” outside North America.
In fact I would go so far as to say they have mastered the art.
After a long morning of shopping at a large mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we stopped for tea at Harrods beautiful tea bar. The Tea Salon, with its white clothed tables and fine china, was the perfect place to partake in a cool drink and take a break fro our shop-till-we-drop excursion.
We sat down and I put my handbag and my parcels on the floor next to me. The dashing waiter rushed over with a black basket and placed it on the floor next to me, picked up my handbag and placed it in the basket. I blushed, smiled and thanked him. Seriously, it’s been years since a man touched one of my handbags! 🙂
A few days later, in Singapore, at the Marina Bay Resort – the Ku de Ta restaurant—I again went to put my handbag on the floor, out of habit, and the waitress, Ida, suggested I place my handbag on the cushion next to me instead.
As we left the restaurant we were each presented with a beautiful purse hanger as a gift. Apparently the restaurant gives the ornate purse hangers to all the restaurant patrons to encourage them to use them throughout the city when they are tempted to place their handbag on the floor! What a lovely gesture, and a wonderful way of sharing proper “etiquette” of how better to manage your handbag.
The following week in Tokyo, we noticed some restaurants had bins built in next to the dining tables to place parcels and handbags in. Talk about being attentive to your clients needs! I’m curious, were there women involved with the design of the bins or was it men who had their eyes open to the challenges of their patrons?
Perhaps one of the catalysts in the east is the Chinese proverb that says: “A purse on the floor is money out the door.” Your money, checkbook and credit cards are typically in your handbag and putting your purse on the floor is disrespectful and shows disregard for your wealth.
While we don’t have a similar proverb in the west, I only had to have one biologist show me the bacteria that resides on the floors EVERYWHERE to know you and I ought not to be putting our handbag on the floor and then minutes later on our kitchen counter, bathroom counter and even on our beds – nasty! Knowing that, why would we ever want to put our purse on the floor again?
Where are you likely to place your handbag when you need to put it down?
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette and tagged purse etiquette
November 10, 2014
Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada, and this year more Canadians than ever are wearing poppies as a way to honour our veterans for their sacrifice. With the recent attacks in Canada fresh in our minds, I wasn’t surprised to read that 19 million poppies have been distributed this year – one million more than last year.
Remembrance Day has certainly taken on added meaning after last month’s tragic events. This year Remembrance Day ceremonies will feel very raw for all of us.
Below are a few poppy etiquette suggestions to ensure you are showing the most respect for the honoured tradition.
- Traditionally, a poppy is worn on your left side, closest to your heart, but the fact that you’re choosing to wear the poppy speaks volumes.
- Poppies can be worn any time of year to show support for fallen soldiers, but traditionally poppies are worn from the last Friday in October until November 11.
- Nothing should be worn in front of the poppy.
- After November 11, poppies can be attached to a wreath at your local cenotaph after the Remembrance Day service.
- If you find a discarded poppy, The Salvation Army suggests you place it in the cemetery or at the foot of a war memorial.
We encourage you to purchase a new poppy every year as the money raised through poppy donations goes toward programs and financial assistance to help veterans in need and their families.
Tip: To prevent your poppy from falling off, try sliding a plastic earring backing on the end of the pin. Here are some more tips to keep your poppy in place. What tips do you have for keeping your poppy in place?
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette and tagged poppy etiquette, Remembrance Day
November 6, 2014
The deadly shooting that took place in Ottawa has highlighted, once again, the ethical quandaries around the use of social media during a tragedy.
Just as reports from local Canadian news outlets were coming out, the hashtags #OttawaShooting, #StaySafeOttawa and #PrayForOttawa jumped into action–serving as both a spread the news of the tragedy, as well as offer support.
Social media has given us the ability to stay on top of every important, and tragic, event that’s happening in the world, in real time. And that’s amazing! We live in a time where we have the unique ability to spread the news to a worldwide audience with just a click. But with this “power” to share our opinions with the world, we often forget to be sensitive. These are REAL tragedies happening to REAL people, and a little sensitivity to that will go a long way.
Think before you tweet
Sports Illustrated model Chrissy Teigen experienced a barrage of angry tweets in response to this tweet she posted shortly after news of the shooting broke out: “Active shooting in Canada, or as we call it in America, Wednesday”
Teigen’s attempt at a witty comment on gun control issues in the US fell flat. Her followers immediately took to Twitter to berate her for the controversial tweet. And it got out of hand very quickly, with tweets like “Don’t let the door hit you in your undernourished butt on your way out of the United States” and “I hope someone murders someone you love…” |
Really? I can’t believe that so many people chimed in with such hateful responses. Remember the old adage “Two wrongs don’t make it right”? The supermodel posted soon after that she was quitting Twitter after receiving dozens of death threats.
Obviously the tweet Teigen sent out was ill timed and I’m sure she regrets it, but the backlash was incredibly inappropriate. Just because we have the ability to share all of our thoughts in an instant, doesn’t mean we should!
Newsjacking the tragedy
In the aftermath of the Newton tragedy in 2012, a big box store tweeted their condolences using the hashtag #Fab15Toys. While it IS appropriate for businesses to stop and acknowledge the event, share condolences with those affected – using a self-promoting hashtag in the tweet is completely inappropriate and insensitive.
The retailer later apologized for the tweet, explaining that they used the hashtag to garner exposure to the tragic event. Whatever the reason, the use of the hashtag was in poor taste and viewed as such by followers, who chimed in with their distaste.
Bottom line for business owners: Using a tragic event to gain followers and draw attention to your social media is just plain unethical.
Showing consideration (and common sense)
To save you some embarrassment, and help you keep it classy, I’ve put together a few tips on how to manage your social media when a tragedy strikes.
- Acknowledge the tragedy and extend your condolences to those who have been affected. Keep it simple with something like “Our thoughts are with Ottawa today.”
- If you’re using a social media schedule tool, such as Hootsuite, for example, take a quick review of the posts and tweets that are in the queue. Remove those that are promoting your company. Marketing your company during a tragedy will make your company appear at though they lack empathy. I would also recommend rescheduling tweets or Facebook posts that are lighthearted or humorous, especially those scheduled for the day of the tragedy.
- If you’re running paid ads on social media, give some thought to how they would appear in light of the tragedy and if needed, hit the pause on your ad campaign for a few days.
- Let the “real” reporters report on the details of the event, the victims—and anyone else involved. Even though we have streams of content coming in live, as events unfold, we aren’t “there.” Especially for company accounts, make sure your brand is seen an objective third party—your message should only convey support and offer help where you can help.
- Share information on your social networks about how others can help with recovery efforts, if there is something set up (such as funds that might be set up to help those affected by tragedy)
During a time of crisis, such as the one that we experienced in Ottawa, the clock stops for a while. It’s impossible to approach such a day as “business as usual.” Use common sense when sharing content on social media the day of the tragedy, and in the days that follow.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Communication and tagged social media etiquette
October 31, 2014
Getting ready for a business trip abroad? Brush up on the customs and proper etiquette of your host country BEFORE you board the plane.
In Nigeria, for example, it’s extremely rude to rush a greeting. Before you even begin to discuss business, take some time to inquire about the other person’s well-being. The Japanese prefer to do business on the basis of personal relationships, while the South Africans are more transactional and don’t require developing a long-standing personal relationship before conducting business.
The infographic below from http://www.atdcomm.com.au/ covers the dos and don’ts for business travelers in countries from Argentina to India to South Africa.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Business Etiquette and tagged international travel etiquette
October 23, 2014
One of the most fascinating things about traveling is being able to immerse yourself in another culture. The customs, culture, gestures and what is considered their social “norms” are so interesting.
This summer I had the opportunity to travel farther afield than I normally go. I spent nearly a month visiting Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bali and Tokyo.
In Tokyo, one of the most densely populated urban centers of the world, there is a definite feeling of respect for one another. A limo coach picked us up from the airport to take us to our hotel. And as the bus pulled away, the three attendants who had loaded our baggage bowed to the bus in perfect synchronicity.
Everything seemed quite orderly from the airport, to the streets to the train stations. Pedestrians wait patiently for the light to change before crossing the street and stay to the left on wide sidewalks to allow others to pass.
When traveling, we are exposed to so many new ways of doing things. And these cultural distinctions are often an improvement to some of the everyday things we encounter at home. A new way to look at something we do out of habit or because that’s how we grew up doing it! Wouldn’t it be great if we could pack some of those “new ways” into our suitcase and incorporate them into our lives at home?
Here are a few of the cultural distinctions I noticed during my visit:
- In North America, when we are given change back from a purchase, the clerk typically places the bills in your hand and then drops the coins on top. Or hands you the bills with the coins on top. Either way it leaves you with your wallet in one hand and the bills and change in another.
How do you get the bills and change in your wallet? And thus begins the juggling. Sometimes you end up tossing the loose change to the bottom of your purse so you can deal with the more valuable bills. And I’ve seen gentlemen shove the whole wad of money into their front pocket.
In Tokyo, there are change trays everywhere. Larger than those used in North American restaurants, the change trays sit on the counter by the cashier ready for you to place your money in. When you’re done the clerk picks up the tray and sorts out the money, makes change in the cash register and places your change nicely back in the tray and sliding it back to you. Then you are free to pick up either your change first or your bills and place them into your purse or wallet systematically. Much handier!
- If you’re dining in Japan, your place setting will always include an oshibori. The moist hand towels are used before meals, and they are presented everywhere—at restaurants, coffee shops, Internet cafes, hotel lobbies, and in homes. Generally, the towels are heated, but during summer months you are often provided a cold towel. We learned that our server was waiting for us to use the oshibori as a signal that we were ready to order. (I’m glad someone pointed that out to us!)
- While in Tokyo I noticed most coffee shops and in small eateries the norm is tables for one. In North America, singleton spots are usually just at a counter or bar. We make the assumption most people come in pairs. Not so in Tokyo. During daytime hours eating alone was more common than not. And people seemed to appreciate being able to enjoy their food or beverage and simply connect with their thoughts.
There is always something we can learn from the way others live their daily lives.
Have you been travelling lately? Was there one thing about the culture that surprised or delighted you?
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette and tagged cultural etiquette
October 2, 2014
Recently I was at an event in Las Vegas. One of the other attendees, a young man in his early 40s, arrived a day late. He had flown in from Bejing. As he had missed the opening icebreaker and I went over to introduce myself. When he spoke, his English was flawless. I was surprised and asked “Where are you from?”
The man responded, ”My family is from San Francisco.” I pressed on. “But where are your ancestors from?” Again he responded, “San Francisco.” It was then that I realized I had my foot in my mouth. You know what they say happens when you ASSUME…
I am always curious about other cultures – excited to learn about how people and places around the world. But when your curiosity about a different culture becomes uncomfortable for the other person, it’s no longer an interesting conversation.
With second and third generation immigrants living in the United States, Canada and elsewhere, some people may assume if your skin, hair or eyes are different that you are from somewhere else—and that can be insulting. “Where are you from?” means that you are not from here. In spite of being born here, being a citizen, paying taxes and contributing countless hours of volunteer hours and other services. Making assumptions about others based on their skin color or features may not be out and out discrimination but it can come across as very patronizing.
This video is a little over the top but the opening reminds me of my own foot-in-mouth moment.
The actor is so believable with his clueless reactions. When he compliments the American woman on her impeccable English, asking her where she is from, the woman comes back with, “San Diego, we speak English there.” Priceless! The sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek humor that the actress portrays is classic. Yes, this is a parody, but if you’ve ever had a moment like mine you’ll notice a vein of truth throughout the short video.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette and tagged introduction etiquette
September 25, 2014
When you sit down for dinner at a restaurant, do your eyes dart around the table, wondering which bread plate and water glass are yours? Do you wonder when to start eating—or who pays the bill – when dining with a group of people? And then there’s that extra fork! What in the world is it for, you wonder! Have no fear – I can help you master your dining skills and be more confident, whether you’re entertaining business clients or spending time with new friends.
On October 29, I’m hosting a three-hour dining skills workshop that will help you navigate dining etiquette challenges and give you the know-how you need to succeed in today’s business world.
In this dining etiquette workshop you will learn:
- Host and guest of honour duties
- Toasting etiquette
- Napkin know-how
- Various styles of eating: American, Continental & Asian
- How to be silverware savvy
- …and much more
Register before September 30 to take advantage of special pricing!
Learn how to be comfortable and confident in any situation when dining with others, hosting a dinner, or making a toast.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Business Etiquette and tagged dining etiquette workshop
September 23, 2014
Have you been extra courteous the last few weeks?
With September being National Courtesy Month, this is the perfect time to brush up on being polite to others. After all, a little kindness does go a long way.
Some politeness reminders – and ways to raise the bar on being kind to others:
- Always say “please” and “thank you.”
- Greet others with a smile. Say “hello.” And “goodbye.”
- Be a good listener. Don’t interrupt!
- Dress appropriately for the occasion.
- Wait your turn. Patience really is a virtue.
- Practice your mobile manners.
- Leave things better than you found them.
- Recognize – and show gratitude – to others.
- If you have to leave the dinner table, excuse yourself.
- Give at least 3 compliments a day.
And if you need any more reasons to brush up on being a little kinder to your fellow human beings, studies have shown that being “nice” to others is actually really good for you. In a recent article on Huffington Post, clinical psychologist Lara Honos-Webb, Ph.D. stated “When we help others and do kind acts, it causes our brain to release endorphins, the chemicals that give us feelings of fervor and high spirits—similar to a ‘runner’s high.’”
Sometimes it’s good to be reminded that using your manners and being courteous to others really matters. You can never be TOO POLITE!
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette
