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July 21, 2020
As the pandemic grinds on, whether to wear a mask in public or in shared spaces continues to be a question for some people — but is it a question of etiquette?
Here in my native Canada, where sound policy has helped us avoid the skyrocketing cases we see in other locations, mask wearing still isn’t as accepted as it is in other countries. Yet the evidence is there: Wearing a mask can protect you and the people around you from needless suffering.
Etiquette doesn’t exist just to make the person practicing it look sophisticated; it’s a system of protocols designed to make other people comfortable. From that point of view, wearing a mask is the right thing to do (never mind the health benefits). With that in mind, let’s look at the etiquette behind mask wearing.
Follow the law
In some places like in the province of Quebec, wearing a mask isn’t a matter of personal choice — it’s the law. If you are in a location where face coverings are still an individual decision, adhere to the guidance from your local health minister or health authority. You may be required to wear a face covering only in places where social distancing isn’t possible, for instance, rather than every time you leave the house.
Respect the rules when you visit businesses
If the business you’re patronizing requires masks, put one on — if you don’t, you may be at risk of being kicked out. Employees often must serve as enforcers of these rules, which is an extra burden during an already stressful time, so please save them the added aggravation of chasing you through the store!
Set your own rules at home
You are the queen or king of your castle and can decide whether you’d like visitors to wear a mask. If you do require it, let them know ahead of time so they can prepare. The same rule applies for people who might be entering your home, so note that when you arrange for services like repairs or house cleaning. An option is to have masks available at your home for visitors.
Mind your words and your emotions
I’ve learned that it’s impossible to manage or control others. If you absolutely must talk to someone about mask wearing, first state what you are doing and why. Adopt a curious tone: “I’d like to talk to you about face coverings. I noticed you’re not wearing one. May I ask why?” Realize that you may not get the answer you’re hoping for — during this time of heightened emotions, the response may not exactly be favorable. It’s unfortunate that I must say this, but you should also understand that you could be physically at risk if you broach the subject with a stranger.
Limit Exposure when you can
Of course, mask wearing is just one way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I don’t go to the grocery store anymore and instead opt for grocery delivery. I also take advantage of online retailers like Amazon to reduce the risk of exposure for myself and others. Better yet check out local suppliers that will deliver to you.
Are you wearing a face covering? How do you broach the subject with guests in your home or with friends and family who don’t like to wear masks? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Personal development, Self Care in challenging times, Uncategorized, Etiquette Edge and tagged hand sanitizers, Gain Confidence, Covid-19, Masks
June 2, 2020
When I’m at networking events, I often hear new connections say, “I’m no good at remembering names.
Cue the James Bond clip! You know the one. Bond is with a beautiful woman and she asks, “Who are you?” He responds, “Bond” — big dramatic pause — “James Bond.”
I’ve taken a page out of Bond’s book, though I’m not nearly as a dramatic. I make eye contact, greet the person by shaking hands or giving an air five (safer during this time of COVID-19), and introduce myself by saying, “Hello, my name is Margaret. Margaret Page.”
My first and last names are not unusual and English speakers find them easy to pronounce, so a little repetition is all it takes. Some names, however, are not so simple.
You’ve probably been in a situation in which you’ve met someone and struggled to repeat their name. Perhaps they said it too quickly, or maybe it was an unusual name you hadn’t heard before. Maybe your new acquaintance had a distinct accent that was unfamiliar to your ear.
Conventional wisdom suggests creating a strategy for remembering names, such as picturing a sandy beach for someone named Sandy. I don’t find this trick useful, especially when I travel and have no context for a name from another language.
Recently, though, a reporter who was scheduled to interview me on the radio sent me a link through an app called Namedrop. I clicked on it and heard the reporter repeating her name in her own voice, which made it simple to understand — and, more importantly, remember! You can also add key information to your Namedrop link, such as an email signature, social media profile, and website URL so your most useful info is in one easily accessible location.
Remember, it’s your job to help others remember you! Do you use an app like Namedrop? Has it made a difference? Let me know! I’m always looking for new tools to help make social interactions run smoothly.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Uncategorized
May 12, 2020
If the thought of sitting through one more Zoom meeting makes you want to hide under your desk, you’re not alone. We’ve all had to readjust our work lives to the new reality of social distancing at a pace nearly unheard of in business — and there are definitely going to be a few speed bumps along the way!
Now that the novelty of Zoom has worn off, it’s time to work toward using this powerful technology to our advantage. Let’s start by eliminating some of the most common problems with Zoom.
Virtual Backgrounds are great…until they are not
Using a virtual background at all times is a bit like using an Instagram filter while speaking to your colleagues. It’s fun at first, but then it begins to get distracting — or, worse, undermines the seriousness of your message. (Plus, those backgrounds have the unnerving effect of making you look like a cyborg when you move onscreen.) Save those sandy beaches and the Eiffel Tower for Zoom happy hours with friends.
Welcome People to Your World
Zoom becomes much more inviting and welcoming when you create an attractive space. I like to think of my Zoom setup as the place where I’m hosting a fireside chat. Don’t be afraid to surround yourself with personal items like books and photos, but declutter stacks of papers and other messes.
Don’t Abide by Different Rules of Etiquette
In the real world, we wouldn’t come in and out of meetings or zone out when someone else is speaking. So why do we click our cameras off and on when we’re on Zoom? Why do we clearly get distracted by private chats or email during our virtual meetings? Avoid multitasking and you’ll get more out of your meetings.
Frame Yourself
Zoom requires us to think like film directors and frame ourselves properly. The most common mistake I see is leaving too much space above the head, which risks cutting off the view of your space when you toggle between the speaker pane and the gallery pane. Get ready for your close-up by placing yourself squarely in the center of the screen (this is especially important if you’re using two screens at once).
Know Your Medium
Speaking on screen is much more intimate than speaking onstage — think of the difference between a theatre actor’s exaggerated movements and a movie star’s controlled actions. Avoid big hand gestures (hands can appear distorted onscreen), don’t bob and jig around while you’re talking, and make sure that people can see your facial features and reactions. Focus and direct your energy to the people watching you from their own screens.
If you’re finding it difficult to be productive on Zoom, let me help. I have conducted hundreds of meetings and seminars via Zoom and can chair meetings for you or teach you and your team how to have more effective online gatherings. In just a session or two, you can learn how to beat Zoom fatigue and use this tool to your advantage.
Speaking of Zoom meetings, I have set up three complementary 45-minute webinars that you may be interested in:
May 19 – Maximize Your Personal Impact
May 26 – Step Up to the Plate
June 2 – Executive Presence
To learn more and register, click HERE
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Posted by Margaret Page in Uncategorized
May 5, 2020
The worldwide pandemic has created a new essential piece of clothing: Face masks.
Of course, covering part or all of your face or body isn’t new. But it does pose a challenge for those of us who are obscuring our features — how can we express ourselves fully if we’re used to employing both our voices and our body language?
For me, the answer arose from an experience I had a few years ago in Malaysia. I had lunch with a group of women who wore burkas, the full-body covering favored by some Muslim women. I was unable to see their faces and yet I didn’t miss the full impact of what they were saying.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Uncategorized
April 14, 2020
Many of us have jumped into the Zoom world out of necessity, with many aspects of daily life now handled via video chat — club and business meetings, family dinners, play dates, pub nights, and even holidays!
Thanks to my work with Toastmasters, which has clubs throughout the world, I’ve had the opportunity to work with online meeting platforms for 10 years. What I’ve noticed is that many of us are comfortable with in-person meetings, but not quite so comfortable handling the challenges of remote communication. After all, the cues that we usually pick up on in person — such as the way a person enters a room or body language — aren’t available on a platform like Zoom.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Entrepreneur, StartUp, Business, Webinar, Personal development, Uncategorized, Business Etiquette, Communication and tagged Zoom, Zoom Webinar, Video conference, Internet, Virtual Meeting
March 31, 2020
After a meeting in Denver a couple of weeks ago, I took a flight back home to Canada and immediately went into self-imposed isolation. I went into my alone time with a gung-ho attitude and made lists of everything I would like to accomplish. I was ready!
My birthday was a few days into my isolation period, so my daughter and grandsons left a beautiful Black Forest cake on my doorstep. As I smiled and waved at them through my front-door window, I noticed the youngest’s eyes filled with tears.
It broke my heart.
When I was growing up, we were constantly bombarded with the threat of nuclear war — but we still went to school, played with our friends, and visited our relatives. As I looked at my grandson, the enormity of our current situation hit me and I felt his sense of unease about the future.
I know you’re used to receiving emails from me about how to boost your confidence and your business. But right now, I’m focused on ways I can support you. The truth is, none of us know what will happen next. But what I do know is that this current moment isn’t about discovering new and better ways to make money. It’s not about opportunities to build our brands. It’s about the preciousness of life.
So I’d like to ask you: How are you coping with this period of isolation? Through my work, I’ve learned that most of us can be broken into two groups — those who crave certainty and those who thrive on variety. With that in mind, here are a couple of tips to help you stay positive.
If you feel like your world is heading out of control
The only thing we can change in this moment is ourselves. If you’re missing the order and routine of your pre-coronavirus existence, create new rituals!
I’m using this time to introduce habits that will serve me long after the danger from this illness has passed. I’ll be perfectly honest: It has been a bit difficult to create a lock-down routine and stick with it. But if there has been a blessing from all of this, it’s the gift of time. I get up every morning and recommit to my plan for setting improved standards.
Maybe you never had time for breakfast before, or maybe your sleep hygiene hasn’t been up to par. This is your chance to practice self-care while introducing order.
If you are climbing the walls
Make a list of things you want to try, write them down on slips of paper, put them in a bowl and pull one out every time you feel unsettled. I have been re-learning the Rubik’s cube — something I used to be able to do in my sleep — and trust me, that occupies plenty of time. I also mastered this cups routine. Now, I’m tackling some choreography! I’ve also been planting spring greens, a gentle reminder that life continues to grow and thrive.
Take care. Be gentle with yourself. (I’m refusing to beat myself up for eating that Black Forest cake by myself.) Please reach out if you need help. We’ll pull through this together and be wiser for it.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Personal development, Time management, Self Care in challenging times and tagged gratitude, #selfcare #selfquarantine, Self-Isolation, Coping skills
March 19, 2020
These are strange, uncertain times — so many of us are practicing self-isolation in our homes and are cut off from regular contact with friends, relatives, and colleagues.
But this period also presents an unprecedented opportunity!
Instead of seeing your time at home as a jail sentence, it’s time to get creative. If we use our time wisely we can emerge from this pandemic smarter, prepared, and with a new appreciation for life.
Here are 30 ways you can use this time to enrich your mind, heart, and home.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Personal development, Time management, Self Care in challenging times, Uncategorized and tagged #selfcare #selfquarantine
March 17, 2020
After presenting a workshop recently, an audience member asked me how I achieve work-life balance.
I hated to disappoint him, but the truth is that I don’t.
We’re taught that work-life balance is the optimum outcome — a perfect mix of hard work and play, with as much opportunity to rest and recharge as to absorb ourselves in the tasks that will propel us up the ladder.
I don’t know about you, but that model has never worked for me. And honestly, I don’t want it to! I no longer strive for balance. I go for flow.
You know what flow feels like: You’re completely enthralled with whatever you’re doing, whether it’s writing a report or playing with your kids. You’re present in the moment. Time doesn’t stop, but you’re no longer aware of it.
I found that when I focused on balance I became preoccupied with what I needed to do next to maintain equilibrium. My world was a black-and-white series of tasks. When I’m in flow, my world lights up in Technicolor.
So how do you get to this seemingly magic state? By doing less, not more.
Know where your time goes
You’ll never get in flow if you don’t know where your time goes, so begin by tracking your time for a week. How much time do you spend with your family and friends? How much time you spend working? How about the time you spend doing things you don’t want to do? How many hours are spent working on projects that bring you a sense of accomplishment? You can use an online time tracking service like Toggl or Harvest, or you can simply use a spreadsheet or a good old pen and paper. The important thing is to be honest. If you spend two hours a night watching “Seinfeld” reruns, mark it down.
Determine how you want to feel
Knowing your desired outcome is key to making good decisions about your time. Do you want to spend more time with your friends or create more space for building your business? Which of your interests are hobbies and which bring you real fulfillment? Which areas of your career serve your goals and which are pure busywork? You’ll need to understand what you want out of your life before you take the next step.
Ruthlessly edit your time
Take your tracked time and look at it with a critical eye, keeping your desired outcomes in mind. Categorize your time using these questions:
- What can I give up?
- What can I eliminate?
- What can I delegate?
- What routine tasks must I do every day?
Here are a few examples from my own life.
Give Up
I used to wash my hair every day, then take about 45 minutes blow drying it and styling it. I decided to see what would happen if I gave up that daily process and instead did it every third day. Not only do I save 90 minutes over the course of two days, but my stylist says my hair has never been healthier.
Eliminate
I quit watching live TV years ago. I was spending hours on it, sitting through the same commercials over and over again, and wondering where my time went. If I watch TV at all now, I use a streaming service that dispenses with commercials altogether so I can make the most efficient use of my time.
Delegate
I recently hired a cook to drop off healthy meals once a week because I was finding it difficult to do so myself. The cook receives employment doing something she loves, and I find more time to do the things I’m passionate about. Thanks to social media and services like Postmates, you can quickly find someone to help you with just about any errand or time-consuming task that doesn’t fit your priorities right now.
Routine
Exercise is non-negotiable for me because it keeps me mentally and physically fit. Your non-negotiable might include reading your child a story before bed every night or enjoying a cup of coffee by yourself in the morning. Whatever your non-negotiables are, make them a routine so the actions that bring you the most health and happiness are part of your everyday life.
Find Your Flow
Once you have gone through the process of giving up, eliminating, delegating, and making priorities routine, you’ll discover that you’re left with the activities that really spark your senses and challenge you in meaningful ways. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t course correct. Every time you want to add a new project or hobby, go through the editing process again. The goal is to find the right rhythm for you, not to struggle to balance competing interests.
How do you feel when you’re in flow rather than trying to find the perfect work-life balance? What are the strategies you use to find it? I’m interested in hearing what works for you, so please let me know in the comments below.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Personal development, Women, Time management and tagged Time management, work-life balance, routine, delegate, Find your flow
March 3, 2020
On This International Women’s Day, Let’s Salute the Women Who Show Us What True Leadership Means
When my mother was growing up in the Netherlands, men were almost always the head of the house. As one of 14 children — and the fifth girl in a row — she learned early on that men were more valuable. During the week, they would do the heavy work in the potato and cabbage fields and help with the cows; on Sundays they were able to enjoy deep discussions about politics and the economy. My mother learned early on that her role was to embroider, knit, and do “useful women’s work.”
So it’s no surprise that she deferred to my father as head of the household. As a result, my brothers were also expected to take on much bigger challenges than I was.
And yet it was my mother who, as I get older, served as an inspiration. Even though she wasn’t raised to take on leadership positions, she did — as a volunteer for a union, the Poppy Fund, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the local hospital. She still teaches knitting to people — she refers to them as “seniors”. Although she doesn’t quite acknowledge that she is a senior too.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Personal development, Gender, Women and tagged leadership, women, International Women's Day 2020, equality, inspiring women, mothers
February 18, 2020
Think about career mistakes and big moments come to mind — not taking that plum job, bungling a big presentation, getting passed over for a promotion.
But it’s the day-to-day decisions that can really make or break your career. Your sum total of your everyday choices is your reputation, and it’s the often-overlooked key to unlocking success.
We’re all guilty of slipping up from time to time. But if you’re consistently doing the following, you could be sabotaging your reputation — and your future.
Bad Mouthing Others
It can be difficult to restrain yourself in the heat of the moment, but unkind words about your colleagues make you look untrustworthy. If you’re talking about a co-worker behind her back, how is the listener supposed to believe that you won’t do the same about him?
Using Foul Language
There are a few industries where blue language is tolerated and maybe even expected. But that’s not the case for 99 percent of us. Although some people might find off-color language provocative, or even funny, you run the risk of offending people and looking unprofessional.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Interviews, Business, Personal development, Uncategorized, Business Etiquette, Communication and tagged career, workplace, Reputation, career mistakes, promotions
