With the holiday season fast approaching, your calendar is probably filling up with invitations to cocktail parties and holiday festivities. The holidays provide the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends, spend time with family and mingle with business associates. With the party season about to kick into high gear, I thought this was the perfect time to share a few cocktail party etiquette tips.
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No matter what business you’re in, chances are you’re going to be invited to your fare share of meetings. Adhering to the proper etiquette for business meetings will establish respect among the other participants, and ensure that the meeting is productive for everyone.
Here are a few business meeting etiquette tips to keep in mind:
When attending your next meeting, make sure your attention is laser-focused on the topic at hand and what you need to accomplish. Don’t let distractions get in the way.
Do you have a meeting nightmare to share? We’d love to hear about it! Share with us in the comments below.
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Communication and relationship building are the lifeblood of business, and how you relate to others is what etiquette is all about. More and more companies understand that in order to gain a competitive advantage they need people on their team who can handle themselves in social and professional situations. In addition to having employees who are good at what they DO (hard skills), they need employees who possess strong soft skills.
Soft skills refer to those personal qualities, habits, attitudes and social graces that make you an easy person to be around, and work with.
Some of the most common soft skills employers are seeking and will be assessing you on include:
To advance your professional life, spend some time mastering your soft skills.
For more business etiquette tips, check out my etiquette training and teleseminars. Or download a copy of “The Power of Polite: A Guide to Etiquette in Business.“
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“Hindsight is always 20/20” ~ Billy Wilder.
As we grow older and wiser, we often find ourselves looking back and saying, “If I only knew then what I know now!” It always seems so obvious, doesn’t it?
So when I was invited to speak at a college graduation, my mental wheels really started turning. What could I share with this crowd of eager young adults, just emerging from the cocoon of their education, ready to test their brand new wings on the winds of the world?
What words of wisdom would prove useful in meeting the challenges that lay ahead?
To answer these questions, I reached back into my own history and asked myself: what would have helped me to hear in my early 20s? The floodgates opened and a torrent of ideas came rushing through my mind.
“Invest in relationships. They are life’s greatest gifts.”
I reflected back on some of the lessons I tried to teach my own children…
“Never, never, never stop learning!”
…and some of the principles that I attribute to a happy life.
“Do the things you love now, not later.”
I thought about some things that life’s hard knocks had taught me.
“Even ‘bad’ experiences bring important lessons with them.”
And, I sifted through some of the ideas that helped shape my character.
“Always leave things better than you found them.”
Some thoughts revealed a healthy dose of perspective, the kind that only comes with age.
“It’s going to be ok, it really is!”
And the voices of discipline and self-control spoke up too.
“Being emotional is overrated. Learn to control your emotions.”
Optimism came through, loud and clear…
“Don’t forget to smile. You have a lot to be happy about.”
…as well as a strong tone of encouragement.
“Be bold in your life. It can make all the difference.”
Quality of life ideas also came in strong.
“You can’t live a good life with a bad attitude. Just be happy. Savor good times, and release the bad times.”
It’s important to recognize that most of the things we would tell our younger selves are still worth telling ourselves today. So I encourage you to take a few minutes to ask yourself: “What would I tell my younger self?”
Jot down your answers and tuck that paper away; be sure to put it somewhere that you will stumble across in the future. When you rediscover your note, chances are good that your current self will appreciate the advice.
Want to take this process one step further? How about we share our wisdom with each other? After all, we’ve paid our dues for this knowledge, so let’s share the wealth!
I’ll start… here’s what I would tell my younger self:
What would YOU tell your younger self? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Do you travel a lot? It’s all so relative isn’t it? What’s considered a lot by my cousins in the Netherlands is not a lot by North American standards. My cousins take a coffee break if they have to drive for 90 minutes! Perhaps that speaks more to the stage of develop of the culture rather than the geographic distance that needs to be covered.
In Europe I believe the focus is more on relationships, when it comes to how they spend their time. In North America in spite of Gen Y’s efforts, the primary focus is building and maintaining wealth…which, of course keeps our pace steady at GO, GO, GO!
Over the last the last few years I have traveled a mile or two. And while I have had the opportunity to stay at many glamorous hotels, and some not so glamorous (thanks Isabelle for taking care of the mice), my favorite way to travel is to stay as a guest in someone’s home. It’s certainly a far better way to learn about the people you are engaging with.
And no one treats guests better than Jonellen and Lou Heckler. When I arrived at their home for a weekend of coaching recently, there was a plaque on the front door that read: “Welcome Margaret.” My suite (yes bedroom, bathroom and sitting area) also had my name on the door. They had everything you would expect at a five-star hotel: packaged quality soap, shampoos, body lotion and even toothpaste (just in case I forgot mine). Everything was sparkling clean and inviting.
Uncertainty makes people feel uncomfortable—and your job as a host or hostess is to reduce that uncertainty. When you are entertaining house guests, let them know exactly what will be happening over the duration of their stay.
The most welcoming thing to say to guests is, “Make yourself comfortable. Make yourself at home.”
Seven things to consider when having houseguests:
Bonus:
Ask your guest if they felt something else could be added to the guest rooms to make their overnight stay more comfortable. Jonellen has received great ideas from this request – including things like a lint roller to an ironing board and iron.
Do you have tips for entertaining houseguests you’d like to share? What are some things that hosts should avoid? Let me know in the comments section below!
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It is estimated that more than half the meaning of our communication is transmitted through body language. Before we created words to communicate with each other, we used movements and gestures to communicate what we wanted.
Iconic actress Mae West said it best with this quote: “I speak two languages, Body and English.” The communication we convey with a hand gesture or a nod of the head is more powerful than we realize.
Our body language sends a message to the person we’re talking to, saying things like: “I’m bored and uninterested,” or “I’m interested and excited to be here” for example. No matter what words you use, your body language will always give you away. The body doesn’t lie.
Just as we can’t form a verbal sentence with just one word (except for “go”), the meaning of a conversation can’t be derived simply from one bit of body language. We must look at the entire non-verbal communication to complete the sentence and read the message correctly.
So what kind of things can you do to ensure that a positive message is being conveyed?
Rubbing the chin or placing the hand under the chin with one or two fingers on the cheek is a sign of contemplation or evaluation.
Not sure what you’re “saying” with your body language? One way to find out is to evaluate yourself in the mirror – or videotape yourself having a conversation with someone. Ask yourself “How would I view someone who looks, talks, and acts as I do?” Then, adjust accordingly!
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Do you ever get the feeling that customer service is becoming a big joke?
You probably don’t have to think too far back to remember:
Most of us have had these dreadful customer service experiences, and if we all got together in a room, we could gripe about them for hours. Dissatisfied customers LOVE to tell others how poorly they were treated – and with social media, the word spreads even faster.
You’d think companies would be more concerned about this. After all, studies show that:
And the problem is even bigger than these statistics imply – because the word “customer” includes more people than you might think.
In the business world, customers are categorized into two classes:
Beyond business, the word customer applies to anyone who comes to you with a need, looking to get it fulfilled. That need might be for skills, knowledge, communication, problem-solving, emotional support, guidance, even just your presence.
Think about your daily life and how many people cross your path, looking to get a need met. You have a lot of “customers” in your life – and being of service means being responsive to their needs.
Think about it this way:
So, the quality of service we provide impacts many more people than just those who are purchasing goods and services – and when you look at it that way, we’re ALL in the business of keeping our customers happy.
Here are some simple principles that anyone can apply to be of better service.
10 Ways to Please Any Customer, Any Time
Something to consider:
In business and in life, if you don’t treat people right, they can always go elsewhere. So if you value those you interact with, make the effort to deliver a high standard of service. It will inevitably benefit you as much as it does your customer.
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This week we have a guest blog post from Dr. Loren Ekroth.
Pollinate definition: To transfer pollen from a stamen to a pistil; fertilization in flowering plants.
Pollination helps both co-(mutually) evolve.
Without bees and butterflies, no pollination. Without pollination, no flowering, no honey or corn.
Network definition: To meet people who might be useful to know, especially in your job.
Many business and professional meetings set aside a time for “networking” during which attendees chat and exchange business cards.
Pollination adds some of value to both participants. The pollinator gets a reward such as nectar for pollinating the plant.
An example by George Bernard Shaw of humans “pollinating each other.”
“If I give you an apple and you give me an apple, we both have an apple. But if I give you an idea and you give me an idea, we both have 2 ideas.”
Both prosper by gaining a new idea.
However, for such human pollination to work, both must be receptive to the transaction. Also, people who interact only with those with the same ideas do not grow.
However, when those interacting are diverse, both can gain. For example, an artist and an engineer, a realtor and a teacher, a Catholic and a Jew.
(Two practical applications of “cross-fertilization” occur in small Mastermind groups composed of a mix of people supporting one another and in “Knowledge Cafes” where participants periodically move to other tables to share what they’ve learned.)
My late friend Anne Boe, co-author of “Is Your Net Working?” was clear that participants should “give without an expectation that doing so will reap an immediate reward.” Instead, she recommended that you give because it’s the right thing to do.
Some ways to “pollinate” include
As psychologist Robert Cialdini described in his classic book, “Influence,” the principle of reciprocity is powerful. When we give a gift, compliment a person, or do them a favor, the receiver usually feels a need to reciprocate, if not immediately, then later on.
In today’s article I drew upon nature, mainly biology, to find a new paradigm for relating to others. In short, it is this: When we do more than connect, when we add something that gives more vitality to those we connect with, everybody gains, everybody wins.
From “Better Conversations” newsletter, April 4, 2012, by Dr. Loren Ekroth. .© 2012. Reprinted with permission. Loren Ekroth is founder of “Better Conversation Week,” and related community events. To subscribe to his complimentary newsletter, visit www.conversationmatters.com.
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I love cycling! And I did a lot of it last year when I visited The Netherlands! Beautiful! The fall is a great time of year to dust off your bike and hit the road. It’s not only great for the body, but it’s a great way to escape. Leave the computer, cell phone and other digital distractions behind and hit the open road!
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Last week I was attending an event and saw a very attractive baldheaded gentleman standing across the room. I went over, smiled and introduced myself to him. He smiled back and made a sweeping gesture with his index finger across his teeth and said, “Do this.” Yes, you guessed it — I had lipstick on my teeth! Talk about embarrassing! Instead of dazzling him with my smile – he saw red! Red teeth that is!! I was caught with lipstick smeared on my teeth! Not the impression I was trying to make. Especially in a business setting!
Even though I was mortified, I was also grateful that he felt comfortable enough to tell me that I was walking around with lipstick-smudged teeth!
If you encounter someone with lipstick on her teeth, return the favor. Discreetly inform them of the smudge.
How to avoid the colorful smile
First impressions are important, especially if you’re in a business setting. My advice, to avoid being left “red-in-the-face” when meeting with a new client or mingling at a networking event is to take a few moments and do a mirror check before you enter the room. Check that there’s nothing stuck in your teeth, and test to make sure your lipstick isn’t going end up on your teeth!
To ensure that you haven’t applied too much lipstick – which is the main reason we end up with some of it smeared on our teeth – you’ll need to perform the Finger Test. Follow these steps before you leave the house!
This is a really common technique for making sure that excess lipstick doesn’t migrate to your front teeth.
So, how do we avoid getting lipstick on our teeth, ladies? I’ve also hear that applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly works. What do you think? Do you have a trick?
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