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July 30, 2012
Creating a LinkedIn profile, and knowing how to interact with your connections, isn’t always as simple as it seems. The information you include—or exclude—could affect your career growth, as well as your overall professional identity online.
The social network is a great place to showcase your achievements and build a network of professional contacts, but there are definitely some etiquette dos and don’ts to follow to ensure you are presenting yourself in the most positive light.
Follow these tips to avoid LinkedIn etiquette blunders!
DO:
- Include a profile picture. Investing in a photographer to take professional headshots is worth the investment. It’s the first thing people notice when they visit your LinkedIn profile.
- Complete your profile. Add your professional info, website address, honors and awards, interests, groups, etc. Also include widgets to pull in content such as your reading list, events, and your business blog.
- Give and receive recommendations. Utilize the recommendations feature to request endorsements from business contacts. While it’s great to be recognized, it’s important that you also recommend others. In good LinkedIn etiquette: what goes around—comes around.
- Join groups. LinkedIn allows you to connect with people who are in the same group as you are. But don’t just join: contribute and add value.
- Post regular status updates. Updating your LinkedIn status is a great way to stay on your network’s radar.
- Tailor your messages. When inviting someone to your network, take the time to personalize your message. Within a few seconds you can include a personal note to a contact that replaces the auto-generated “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn).
Don’t:
- Don’t add people you don’t know. While it’s great to have a large professional network, requesting a connection to a stranger will devalue the real connections you have. Add only the people you truly have a real connection with—whether you’ve been introduced in person or online.
- Don’t post an inappropriate photo. LinkedIn is not Facebook and humorous photos are not appropriate in your profile. Keep it professional.
- Don’t overlook grammar and spelling. LinkedIn is a great place to promote yourself and misspelled words are not going to make your personal brand shine.
- Don’t use automated invites. Add a personal message to the invitation.
- Don’t be spammy. This should go without saying, but avoid posting over-promotional comments on your LinkedIn page. LinkedIn is not the venue for peddling your latest product.
- Don’t ask for LinkedIn endorsements from people you don’t know. In real life, it would be a strange networking move to ask for a testimonial from a stranger. The same applies here.
From “The Power of Polite: A Guide to Etiquette in Business.”
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Posted by Margaret in Business Etiquette and tagged business etiquette, networking, social media etiquette, LinkedIn
July 19, 2012
We’ve all experienced one of those awkward moments when meeting a business associate and you extend your hand, just as they move in for the hug (or vice a versa)—and then there’s this awkward, jerking-movement where one of you pull back and then each of you mimic the others’ first move.
Sound familiar? It’s a chicken-dance moment that will definitely throw both of you off guard!
To hug or not to hug –that IS the question.
Here are my thoughts on the subject.
First, it’s important to note that the way you greet someone in a business situation is often an indication of the relationship that the two of you share…
For example, have you known the person for a long time? Are you friends outside of the business arena? There’s a comfort zone that is obvious to both individuals that makes a quick hug more appropriate, even in a business setting.
And then there’s the setting. What if their boss is present when you meet with them? No matter how well you know the person, a handshake may be the better choice in this situation. The first rule of thumb of manners is “always make people feel comfortable.”
If you’re meeting with someone in the rain, opt for the handshake and take your meeting indoors. Who wants to hug someone who is wet?
In the business world, there are definitely industries where hugging is more – or less– accepted as a greeting between clients or business professionals. You will see less hugging in the legal, banking or accounting arena, whereas the more artistic industries—personal care industries like film making, restaurant, wine producing, and beauty industries – people are more likely to greet you with a hug.
Of course, there are also geographic and cultural considerations when it comes to greetings. From my personal experience, hugging is more prevalent on the west coast than the east coast of America. And in Japan they are teaching how to correctly hug in “Doing business in America” classes. Maybe it’s something we should be learning as well? Put your left hand here …
What do you think? Are you a big-time hugger? Or do you prefer to only greet people with a hand shake in a business setting? This is a great topic for conversation as we also have our own personal boundaries. Our comfort zone. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with hugging in the business world!
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Posted by Margaret in Business Etiquette
July 9, 2012
With the celebrations for Canada Day upon us, I thought it was a good time to revisit the topic of Flag Etiquette.
The National Flag of Canada is a symbol of honour and pride for all Canadians and as such should be displayed in a manner befitting this important national symbol. When flown in Canada, the National Flag of Canada takes precedence of all other national flags, with the exception of the personal standards of members of the Royal Family and of Her Majesty’s eleven representatives in Canada.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Newsletters
June 25, 2012
I love reading motivational quotes. They elevate my mood and allow me to look at something from a new or fresh perspective. And sometimes they just make me smile. 🙂
This week we’re launching a brand new inspirational blog series we’re calling “Motivational Mondays.” We’re hoping to jump start your work week by sharing our favorite snippets of inspiration every Monday morning.
For our first week, we’re sharing some of our favorite inspirational quotes about success. I hope you enjoy them!
“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” ~ George Sheehann
“To succeed in life we must stay within our strength zone but move out of our comfort zone.” ~John Maxwell
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.” ~ Tommy Lasorda
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” ~ Henry Ford
“Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.” ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers
“Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” ~ Conrade Hilton
“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
Now it’s your turn! Is there one particular quote about success that resonates with you? Maybe you have it taped to your computer screen or stuck to your fridge as a reminder? Share it with us so we can add it to our list!
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Posted by Margaret in Just for Fun
June 15, 2012
When making introductions in business, the order of introduction is important—the easiest way to remember is whoever has the highest honor is mentioned first.
For example, when introducing the vice president of your company to a new marketing manager, you would say: “Bob Smith, I’d like to introduce to you Angela Morrison. Angela is our new marketing manager at the Tampa Bay office and is here for the business expo.”
In the social arena, however, gender and or age determine who is introduced to whom. If the individuals being introduced are of the same generation you would use the female gender first rule.” Sally Martin, may I introduce to you George Tilley. ” However, in the event you were introducing a young woman to gentleman who is much older use “Grandpa I would like to introduce to you my good friend Dawn.”
Examples introducing a man to a woman include:
Formal:
“Ms. Lawrence please let me introduce Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones is visiting the Sunshine Coast from Seattle, Washington.”
Informal:
“Jane please let me introduce Steven. Steven is visiting the Sunshine Coast from Seattle.”
Always add a piece of information that will easily spark conversation. And when introducing relatives, take a moment to clarify their relationship to you. For example, “Jane, I would like to introduce my sister Michelle to you. She has just moved to Vancouver from Ontario last week.”
In small-group gatherings, the host or hostess is expected to introduce guests to other guests. However, among large groups, if you are hosting a gathering you are off the hook—guests are responsible for introducing themselves to each other.
Be careful about introducing one guest to another and calling only one of them “my friend.” To single out a particular person as “my friend” implies that the other person is a stranger! You never want to leave anyone feeling slighted.
Take action on these introduction tips and you’ll feel confident at any gathering or business function this summer!
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Posted by Margaret in Business Etiquette
June 9, 2012
Proper manners—the art of practicing good social graces—transcend beyond dry land with something salty dogs call “boating etiquette.”
Whether you’re going out on the water for an afternoon of sailing, or for a weekend of sea-faring adventures, the first rule of thumb when you’re a guest on someone’s boat is that the captain (or the skipper) is boss. His boat. His rules.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Newsletters
May 31, 2012
“He who thinks he leads but has no followers is merely taking a walk.”
~ Proverb
Let’s start with a simple question: How influential are you?
It’s a very important question, because your ability to influence others is a huge factor in your success, not only in business but in life. Your ability to develop and maintain successful relationships, professional success, and satisfaction with life is intricately connected with your ability to interact with people in a way that makes a strong impression. This is the heart of leadership.
According to John Maxwell, a renowned expert on leadership, leadership is: the ability to gain followers. (Simple enough, right?) But when we take a closer look at why people are following a leader, we start to understand the five different levels of influence a leader can exert.
In the following paragraphs, I’ll highlight these different levels of influence and share some of my own experiences of each “level of leadership.” As you read through them, I encourage you to reflect on your own life experience and see if you can identify each type of leader in your life. This will open up a deeper level of understanding – and perhaps some aspirations as well.
Level 1: Position-based leadership is the most basic level, established solely by title. Authority extends only as far as the title. People follow this type of leader only because they have to, and only so far as the boundaries of the title.
A good example of this would be a first-level manager in a company. People will do just enough to please their manager, and only while in the office. The only authority this manager has is what has been bestowed by higher-ups. Outside the office, this manager carries little to no influence – but some people mistakenly think themselves a true leader at this point, throwing their weight around, just to make a statement.
I once ran a municipal election campaign, and as the process got underway, four different team members approached me with a warning about that guy: “keep him away from me or I’m leaving the team.” By virtue of his title, that guy saw himself as second in command, but he was far from a true leader. He was rude to people, consistently pretentious, and a bit of a bully. Whenever he asserted his brand of “leadership,” he drained the energy, passion and enthusiasm right out of the group – and once the campaign was over, the rest of the team couldn’t wait to get away from him. He didn’t have a single loyal follower.
Level 2: Permission-based leadership occurs when people follow someone because they want to. This is the true beginning of influence. The leader really begins to grow as a person and contribute on a larger scale when people begin to follow him or her voluntarily.
Think of a fitness instructor. People show up for class because they want to be led and inspired by the leader in the front of the room. No one makes people show up and participate… they come for the sole purpose of being pulled forward by the skill, knowledge, insight and energy of the leader. In return, the leader develops a deeper level of dedication because of this loyalty.
When I think of this type of leader, a vision of Mariah comes to mind – the burlesque teacher I wrote about several months ago. She led a room full of uncertain, self-conscious women into the empowered mindset and sensual dance moves of a seasoned burlesque troupe. And her being taught us just as much, if not more than, her words and actions. She made us want to be just as confident and sexy and fluid as she was! And she was truly devoted to her role as our teacher.
Level 3: Production-based leadership occurs when people begin to produce and follow the leader because of what they see their leader doing for the organization. People like what the leader does, so they contribute their efforts to support those initiatives.
A good example would be a savvy business coach who comes into a struggling, inefficient business to assess and reshape operations. He or she opens up new channels of communications and implements strategies that create new avenues of progress. Once the employees and business leaders recognize the progress this coach brings to the company, they become eager to listen, learn, and apply the leader’s advice.
I discovered this type of leader in the Toastmasters organization, in a District Governor, Reamick Lo. She leads with a loyal and consistent hand, always showing up for every contest, training, and anniversary. She gives so much of her time and energy that she inspires others to step up and emulate her example. Always willing to handle challenging people and situations, she is committed to a win-win philosophy that inevitably moves everyone ahead. A master of perspective, she draws attention to the big picture, brushing aside the minor details to keep people anchored in the best interests of the organization.
Level 4: People development is a level of leadership that occurs when a leader contributes to others personally, helping them grow their own capacity for leadership. This generates an even deeper level of loyalty.
A sports coach who takes the time to mentor the team captain would be a good example. As the coach describes and portrays the qualities that elevate a player to a leader, the captain develops a high degree of openness and respect for the input of the coach. The influence that the coach has on the captain extends beyond the coach’s title, his or her ability to advise the team, or even the coach’s effect on the team’s results. This is where leadership is elevated to mentorship.
I experienced this in my own life when I worked with “a coach’s coach,” Teresia LaRocque. As she nurtured the leader in me, I grew to value and respect her in a way that transcended our professional relationship. I welcomed her input because she helped me grow my capacity and influence in a way few others had ever done before.
Level 5: Personhood is the pinnacle of leadership, and according to John Maxwell, very few people make it to this level. It occurs when people follow you based on who you are and what you represent or stand for, and it is reserved for people who have spent years growing others and their organization.
Examples include Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou and Mother Teresa – people who are known for their principles, their lifelong body of work, and their demonstrated commitment to others.
Pat Johnson, a former president of Toastmasters, once delivered a speech to a large group, recognizing the outstanding contribution of four exceptional people. She said to the audience, “If your life has been touched by at least one of these four people, please stand.” About 90 percent of the room stood up. Then she said, “If you’re still seated, and if anyone standing has touched your life, please stand.” Every remaining person rose to their feet. She went on to explain that while most of us are connected by six degrees of separation, these extraordinary leaders had such a strong influence that for them it was only two degrees. That’s powerful leadership.
Truth be told, the path of leadership isn’t really about power; it’s a path of extraordinary personal growth. It forces people to grow up and recognize that their actions and decisions aren’t just about them – they’re about the people we serve.
I once heard that Zig Ziglar decorated the hallway leading to his office with pictures of the people who inspired him and moved him along his path to success. Those people were his most influential leaders. Hearing this, I had to wonder… will I make it onto someone’s hallway wall someday?
Something to consider:
Become a student of leadership and influence. It’s definitely a path worth exploring! John Maxwell’s book, “Becoming a Person of Influence,” is a great starting point. And if there’s anything I can do to support you on your journey, please reach out and let me know!
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Posted by Amazing Editor in A Page of Insight
May 25, 2012
Mastering the art of conversation is an important factor in being successful at networking and relationship building; however, starting conversations with new people can be daunting.
Starting a conversation
As you start a conversation, make the initial greeting brief and friendly; and always incorporate inviting body language. Smile, it’s a powerful greeting in itself. A smile will not only make you more approachable, a happy person exudes confidence and leaves a great impression!
If you’re in a group setting, wait for an appropriate opportunity to jump into the conversation. Refrain from interrupting a conversation as the entire rhythm of it can be altered if your timing is off. Wait for a low point in the conversation, or when someone excuses himself, to add to the discussion.
When starting conversations, pose open-ended questions that elicit a response longer than one or two words. Opening with “How are you?” is certain to prompt a familiar reflux response like “Good” or “Fine, thanks” –and then, you’re dead in the water! How many times have you actually asked that question and actually considered the answer? Next time explore using a question such as “What exciting project are you working on now?”
Exiting a conversation
We’ve all been in situations where the conversation becomes uncomfortable or tedious and you find your mind drifting to find ways to exit (quickly). First and foremost, always be gracious, even when you’re “stuck” in a conversation with someone.
As with joining group conversations, in order to make a “gracious” break for it, wait for a pause in the discussion in order to make your move. Start with “Thank you,” and extend your hand to offer a “goodbye” handshake. Smile (always!) and then offer your exit (or polite excuse). Something like “It was lovely meeting you. I have to run. It’s been great chatting with you.”
If you would like to build on this new relationship, ask for their business card or offer your business card and invite the person to connect with you. Whether you’re off to another engagement or trying to escape a tedious conversation, always use common courtesy and common sense!
Not everyone is a natural born talker, but practice really does make it easier to tackle engaging in conversation with new people.
Are you nervous starting conversations with new people? We would love to hear your experiences!
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Posted by Margaret in Business Etiquette and tagged the art of conversation
May 17, 2012
Be prepared. Before you even pick up the phone to make a business call, be prepared for what it is you want to say. What is the purpose of your call? Summarize this, in your mind (or on paper if you must), in a few short sentences.- Introduce yourself. Begin every voicemail message with an introduction. Don’t assume that the recipient will know who you are from your voice. Start with something like: “Good morning, this is Joan Smith, marketing director at ABC Company…”
- Keep it short. With most answering systems you have a one minute time limit to leave a message so be sure to keep your message short, simple and concise. You don’t have to divulge every detail in your voice message. It’s completely acceptable to leave a short message that conveys the reason for your call, such as: “Good morning, Bob. Our monthly sales meeting has been moved to tomorrow at 10 a.m. I look forward to seeing you then.” If there is more information to share, simply end your message with something like: “Please give me a call back to discuss the details.”
- Speak slowly and clearly. When the “BEEP” alerts you to start your message, remember this: It’s not a starter pistol…and you’re not off to the races! Even though there is a time limit for your message, speak slow enough that the recipient can understand what you are saying. Speak clearly, and with an adequate volume. If the recipient is jotting down notes or a callback number, you want to be certain that the message is understood. When listening to your voicemail, it’s really frustrating to have to replay the message three times just to get the info straight!
- Include your phone number. One of the things many people forget to do when leaving a voicemail message is to provide a callback number. When ending the call, leaving your number twice is a courtesy – as often people can’t write down your number as fast as you say it. Something like: “Thank you for your time. You can reach me at 888-555-4444 anytime. That’s 888-555-4444. I look forward to speaking with you.”
Are there any voicemail pet peeves you’d like to share with us? What about leaving a message? Do you feel at a complete loss for words when faced with the “…leave a message at the sound of the beep”? Leave your comments below!
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Posted by Margaret in Business Etiquette
May 11, 2012
At a recent workshop I asked participants to share what they felt was positive, and negative, about social media.
Here are a few of the things that they found to be positive about social media:
Positive:
- Immediate communication
- Far-reaching message
- Personal
- Fast, easy and trackable
- Ability to stay in touch and / or reconnect
And here are a few of the things the participants felt were negative attributes of social media:
- Time consuming
- Don’t know results
- Eroding communication skills
- The etiquette of social media difficult to understand
While I was not surprised by the positive attributes of social media – the ease of communication and ability to connect being one of the most notable benefits – I was a little surprised at how many people wanted to know “how to use social media.” The etiquette “rules” for using social media effectively, both for personal and for business communication, seems to be a common struggle for many who are navigating this new way of connecting.
Manners matter, online and offline
There is no lack of information on “how to use social media” online (just key that into the Google search bar!), so I thought I would just share a few tips to help you with some of the more “mannerly” things to think about when sharing on your social networks.
Say “hello”
If you are at a networking event and you’re face-to-face with someone, you’re going to introduce yourself before you launch into a conversation. On LinkedIn (or other networks where you’re “meeting” people), be sure to observe the same consideration. If you’re asking for a connection on LinkedIn, update the default message to a more personalized one before sending the request.
Think before you tweet (but be yourself!)
There’s a certain transparency that comes with communicating online. Once you hit that “send” button, you can’t take it back. It can be very easy to fire off a tweet or update your page, without thinking about the repercussions. I’m all for honesty, but be sure you’re sharing information you want the world to see! Read before you tweet is always a good practice to incorporate!
Show your gratitude
If someone shares your content, say “thank you.” This is a good way to show your gratitude, but it’s also a great way to connect with a fan or follower and engage in a further discussion on the topic.
Talk like a real person, but be professional
If you’re using social media to build your business, or your professional network, the most important thing you can do is be yourself. Know your goals (just as you would at a networking event) and get to know people through real conversations. Talk about the same things you would talk about if you were face-to-face. Be professional, but show your personality.
Although the world of online networking is new to many of us, there is little difference in connecting with people online and offline. The same basic tenets hold true: Trust and authenticity are at the top of the list.
What tips do you have to share? Your thoughts on the positive and negative aspects of social media? We’d love to hear about it! Share with us in the comments below!
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Posted by Margaret in Everyday Etiquette
