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October 2, 2019
I went to an event recently that brought up a lot of memories.
I was in the audience of Women’s Pitch Night Vancouver, listening to women make their cases for their business ideas. As I watched these talented women pitch, I realized the needs of women in business haven’t changed much since I started my career in the very masculine oil fields of Alberta.
Bringing Ideas To Life
We need help fleshing out our ideas and bringing them to vibrant life. Women face an uphill battle as entrepreneurs. We’ve gained a steadier foothold in business over the past 50 years, but we still lack the support structures we need to start our own businesses. For example, we’re less likely to find women in the upper echelons of the business world who can mentor us, share their own experiences, and help us take a kernel of an idea and help it thrive into something bigger. According to search and leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder, only 54 percent of women have access to senior leaders who also serve as mentors.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Entrepreneur, StartUp, Business, Communication and tagged business, women, entrepreneur, pitching, mentoring, startup
September 23, 2019
We all know the old adage, “It’s not personal; it’s just business.”
But we also know that business is not just about numbers and transactions — it’s a highly personal space wherein relationships matter. Businesses rely on their customers to stay afloat. Employees need human connection at work for successful collaboration. They connect with their colleagues, their bosses, their clients, and vice versa, making the network for relationships within and around a single business an intricate one.
What cannot be denied, however, is that the rise of technology in the workplace has altered the way teams communicate. A survey shared by Entrepreneur details key facts on workplace communication: 73% of workers text on a daily basis; 82% make phone calls; 73% work with emails; and 55% use social media as communication tools. These channels have speeded up collaboration like never before, helping teams streamline ideas and organize projects.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Business Etiquette, Communication and tagged technology, business, communication
September 10, 2019
Connecting people. Empowering the Community. #VSW2019
Vancouver Startup Week (VSW) is a week-long celebration that builds momentum and fosters connections among entrepreneurs, investors, leaders, and friends within the Greater Vancouver startup community. In 2018, VSW brought together more than 2,000 people at 108 events, including investor showcases, panel discussions, office visits, and networking events.
This year, from September 13th to the 20th, attendees will be able to experience events that cover everything startup related; from scaling up with growth strategies and venture capitalism to networking and VR related tech. Also available are the returning favorites such as the Recruitment Fair and Hackathon.
What’s new? Vancouver Startup Week is adopting a more streamlined and organized approach to their event calendar. That’s why for VSW 2019, they are announcing event tracks to help you find the events you’re looking for, much more efficiently. Events tracks include funding, founders, growth, technology, and networking. Check out the schedule to discover your favourite events.
I am pleased to be partnering with @vanstartupweek and supporting the startup community here in Vancouver. Join me at noon on Monday September 16th at UBC Robson Square, Room C1900 for my presentation, “Pitch Like A Pro”.
Join VSW in celebrating the success of some amazing local entrepreneurs at #VSW2019. Use the promo code 20-Community to get a 20% discount off the regular price at https://vanstartupweek.ca/.
See you there!
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Posted by Margaret Page in Entrepreneur, Business, Communication
August 16, 2019
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The other day a friend was sharing a story with me about an issue she was having with a co-worker’s cubicle “manners.” My friend is highly sensitive to perfume and aerosols, and her co-worker, who works in the cubicle next to her, is very cautious about germs. The co-worker keeps a can of Lysol in her desk, and after each visitor leaves her cubicle she douses the area in her cubicle with the fragrant anti-bacterial spray.
The dilemma, as you can tell, is that the opposing fumes seep over the top of the cubicle wall, exposing my friend to the odor—causing her discomfort.
So, what is the etiquette in this situation? Use scent-free products. Emily Post said it best when she said, “Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.”
As we are often in situations where we have to work in close quarters, I thought it would be a good idea to share some more “cubicle etiquette” tips.
Here are the four “Ps” of cubicle etiquette.
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Posted by Margaret in Business Etiquette and tagged cubicle etiquette, workplace manners
August 9, 2019
You’ve met people with itbefore. They walk into a room purposefully and confidently. They command attention. When they speak, people hang onto their words and take their ideas seriously.
It may seem like these talented people were born with oodles of charisma. But here’s a secret: Presence is a skill that can be taught. With practice, you can own a room any time, anywhere.
How would it feel to walk into a job interview supreme confidence? Or to give a presentation in front of your company’s C-suite with panache? Once you master the basics of presence, you’ll be amazed at the doors it can unlock.
Here are three keys to tapping into this superpower.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Uncategorized
July 13, 2019
If you’re like me, you can’t wait for summer to arrive! Summer means enjoying all the best that the good weather has to offer, like going to my local beach to relax. I love the feel of the warm sand between my toes, cooling off with a swim, then topping off the day with a picnic or a good read on a beach chair. If you’re heading to your local beach anytime soon, here are some thoughts to keep in mind to make it enjoyable for yourself and others.
Keep it Clean
In an early episode of Mad Men, Don Draper’s family left a picnic by simply shaking their blanket and leaving the trash behind! Times have changed – and for the better. When disposing of your waste at the beach, make sure you use the proper recycling and garbage disposal bins. Not only does it keep the beach pristine for others, it keeps the bees and ants from gathering where they’re not wanted.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Uncategorized and tagged etiquette tips, good manners, Beach, Beach Etiquette, Summer
June 5, 2019
In a world where we are communicating more and more through email, text and social media, the value of physical thank you cards is being lost. Yes, it is amazing how easy it is to stay in touch nowadays – a quick text to see how someone’s day is going– but with something as important as a thank you card, I still believe sending a physical version is far more valuable. The next time your firm receives a big order from an important client, consider sending them a thank you card instead. This is especially true in the USA during National Business Etiquette week 2019.
Physical cards still have a longer shelf life—and greater impact. Because we get so many emails and text messages throughout the day, it’s such a thrill to open our mailbox (our REAL mailbox) and find a physical card inside. After all, you can’t display an email on your desk or hang a text on your bulletin board!
But who has time for that, right? We have the best intentions – we really do want to send out more cards, but time gets away from us and it becomes just one more thing to add to our to-do list. Did you know that people intend to send out an average 70 cards a year for various occasions, but in the end only send out 10 because of the inconvenience? Unless you really plan ahead, when you think about sending out a card, you’re scrambling to find a stamp!
Well, that’s why I am such a huge fan of Send Out Cards. I love them.
Send Out Cards
SendOutCards, founded by CEO Kody Bateman in 2003 – has sent out over 100 million cards since its launch. The online service makes it so easy to send a personalized, printed greeting card to anyone. You choose a custom card, add your own personal photo and message – and then you just click SEND. They take care of all the rest – printing, stuffing, stamping and mailing the physical card for you.
Thoughtful Cards
A colleague of mine once gave me a box of Thoughtful Cards. Similar to a post card, Thoughtful Cards have a wonderful thank you note on one side along with the usual spot for an address and note on the flip side. All I need to do is “pick, personalize, and post”. Their motto is, “Go from gratitude inaction to gratitude in action! It was a lovely gift that I have used several times already.
My personal goal is to send out one card each day. And although I think email thank-yous are convenient and necessary, the arrival of a personal card is far more memorable. If you’re trying to stand out from the crowd, separate yourself from your competitors, sending a physical card will help you do that.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Uncategorized, Business Etiquette, Communication, Etiquette Edge and tagged business, Gain Confidence, Class and Communication Skills with Etiquette Products, thank you cards, customer appreciation
May 29, 2019
Today’s bride and groom are defining their special day in a way that reflects their style and interests in a much more personalized manner than ever before. Blinged-out sneakers instead of white pumps, receptions at micro breweries, and saying ‘I Do’ while wearing flip flops on a Hawaiian beach.
My best friends in the whole world are the four I graduated from high school with in 1980. We got our drivers licenses together, shared our boy crushes and snuck away to concerts together before we received our Dogwood diploma. We never gave much thought about who we would marry, let alone thinking about children’s weddings. That was for when we were old; certainly not now!
Well, fast forward 40 years and guess what? Yup – I am attending a destination wedding in France. Not my friend’s, but her daughter Meaghan’s and her fiancé, Arnaud. And not in a church, but a chateau that has been in the family for centuries. Back in 1980, most of my high school contemporaries were getting married at the local community centre, let alone somewhere outside of town. Meaghan was my flower girl, so I was super happy and excited to attend. Who wouldn’t want to attend a wedding in a French chateau?
As romantic as a French chateau wedding sounds, I can’t help but think the logistics could be a royal nightmare (pun intended). Who makes sure the chateau isn’t full of cobwebs? Is the local priest a 97-year old that doesn’t speak English? Is the local wine any good or should we be using it as red wine vinegar to pour over the fig salad? How does one know this when you live 8300 km away?
I caught up with Meaghan yesterday to get some answers. Apparently, the most challenging thing is that you don’t know what you don’t know. What does that mean exactly? Well, take catering for example. In North America, we’ve come to expect custom service levels that resemble à la carte. The French caterer was quite amused when asked if plates and cutlery were included. Her response? “Well, what else would you eat on?”
Local etiquette and business customs also came into play when thinking about a destination wedding. Apparently asking a wedding expert to make all kinds of changes was a major faux pas. She is the expert, right? Isn’t that why the bride and groom hired them? Deferring to her expertise was something Meaghan and Arnaud had to learn along the way. No problem! Well, except for the fish. Fish you ask? When the wedding couple requested three vegan dishes, they were told, “No problem, we’ll serve local fish.” When the bride went on to explain that local fish would not work either, the caterer said she would be able to work around it. Thank goodness she was able to serve the three vegans some lovely salmon filets instead. Oops!
Navigating foreign paperwork has its own challenges as well. If a non-French citizen wants to get married in France, paperwork needs completing to determine if they are eligible to marry there. Arnaud, having been born in France, happily translated all the documents into English. Turns out all Meaghan needed to provide was a “Certificate of Celibacy”. Wait…what? How on earth was the Federal Department of Global Affairs Canada going to be able to provide that kind of certificate, never mind validating the claim? Awkward!! In the end Arnaud’s translating needed some tweaking. Turns out all they required was proof she was single (célibataire) and had no plans on being a polygamist. Talk about lost in translation!
Lessons to take away? If planning a destination wedding, keep local customs in mind (tipping included), double check your language translations and always, always keep your sense of humour because cobwebs in the chateau are probably the least of your concerns. And really, have you ever tasted bad French wine?
Karen Taipalus lives and works in Delta, BC and enjoys writing short stories and articles based on every-day life events. She likes travelling with her family, wine tasting with girlfriends, bookclub and pickleball. Karen works in business development and social media.
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Posted by Margaret Page in Uncategorized and tagged etiquette tips, bride, travel, love, weddings, destination weddings, groom
May 20, 2019
Hopping on your bike for a cycle around your community or on the local bike trails seems like a no brainer on a nice spring day. In recognition of cycling week (usually in May worldwide and May 27 to June 2 in Canada), here are some bike tips to keep in mind that will make your cycling safe and enjoyable:
- Safety is your number one priority
- Ensure your bike is in good working condition before you head out for a cycle (tires are fully inflated, chain is greased, brakes and gears are functioning properly)
- Always wear a helmet, even though it might look dorky. See #1!
- Wear reflective gear if you’re venturing out at dusk
- Make yourself highly visible at all times. Avoid getting in a driver’s blind spot, especially at street corners and stoplights
- Add a light to the front and back of your bike. Visibility, again, is a big one, and a light is a must to be safe on the roads after daylight
- Hook up a bell to your bike. Being heard is just as important as been seen!
- Wear proper clothing. Choose clothing and shoes that are comfortable and suit your bicycle. You don’t want anything to get caught in the wheels (or reveal too much skin!) Padded riding shorts are best for long distances or when you will be cycling over several days.
- Protective eyewear is a great idea. Avid cyclists find ski goggles work the best. They protect much of your face and they’re fog proof!
- Red means stop. Obey the rules of the road-both at traffic lights and stop signs. (Did I mention…Safety first?)
- Know and use arm signals:
- Left arm straight out to signal a left turn
- Right arm straight out for a right turn (or left arm upright at a 90-degree angle)
- Palm or fist behind your lower back to signal slowing or stopping (when in a group)
- Stay to the right when in front of a group of cyclists to allow room for others to pass safely on your left
- Communicate when riding with a group. If you see a hazard up ahead, let your fellow cyclists know about it
- Maintain a steady, straight line and avoid braking or changing direction suddenly
- Never try to push your rights with vehicles (if in doubt…yield)
- Plan your route stick to approved cycle trails when you can
- Drink lots of water
- Bring your fully-charged cell phone for emergencies (and photos!)
- If you are cycling alone, make sure you tell someone where you are headed and when to expect you back
- Have Fun!
- More Bike month info
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Posted by Margaret Page in Everyday Etiquette, Just for Fun and tagged etiquette tips, manners, cycling
April 10, 2019
A Guide to Tricky Emoji
A colleague recently texted me with a wonderful idea. As someone who messages quite a bit, both personally and professionally, I’m pretty up-to-date on proper etiquette. But when I tried to choose an emoji heart to indicate that I loved my colleague’s idea I was stymied. There were so many choices! A yellow heart? A beating red heart? A large pink heart flanked by smaller hearts?
I’m not alone in my confusion. The misuse of emoji is fodder for Buzzfeed articles about the generation gap between parents and their children — they even show up as plot points in comedies. Here are some of the most commonly used emoji and what they really mean.
Hearts. We all know hearts represent love, but their colors add another layer of meaning. Bustle published a great guide to heart colors that I like to reference. If you’re familiar with the subtle language of giving flowers, you’ll notice a few similarities: Yellow for warmth, purple for drama and glamour, a cluster for over-the-top expression. Save a single red heart, like a single red rose, for a love interest.
Wink. A wink in real life might indicate a joke or a flirtation. In emoji, it is most definitely the latter. Not appropriate in professional texts or with someone other than a partner, spouse, or potential love interest.
Crying laughing. This emoji indicates that you’re laughing so hard that you’re crying — definitely different than the laughing emoji, for which it’s sometimes confused. Make sure you don’t choose the version with a drop of water coming from its forehead: that indicates a nervous, cold sweat.
Smiling face with hands. This face seems very happy, but the hands are an indication that something else is going on. This emoji is a virtual hug — not appropriate for your boss, for example.
Expressionless face. Don’t use this emoji unless you want to convey your displeasure or lack of enthusiasm for an idea, person, or project.
Smiling face with heart eyes. Be careful when using this emoji — it can be applied to an idea you love, but also indicate love or flirtation to the person on the other end of your text message.
There are hundreds of emoji. I’ve concentrated on the way these emoji are used in North America and Europe, but you may run into different interpretations in Asia, for example. When in doubt, type it out rather than use a symbol.
Do you have any emoji horror stories? Please share them in the comments below!
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Posted by Margaret Page in Valentines Day, Uncategorized, Business Etiquette, Communication, Everyday Etiquette, Just for Fun and tagged communication, Emoji, hearts
