Helpful Tips

The following are some great tips for every time you dine in a business setting. Using them even in everyday life show you have proper etiquette and take into consideration the people you meet.

Introductions:

Sometimes overlooked, these can be a big deal! When you bring someone with you to a function, he or she may feel uncomfortable diving into conversations. Worse, his or her feelings may be hurt because you've forgotten about them.

Just a small "Hi, have you met my friend/associate, Jane?" can do the trick and help everyone feel more comfortable.

Customarily, you should introduce the higher ranked person first, regardless of gender. However, if this does not apply, you should introduce the person you are with to the person you've come across. You should repeat each person's name as many times as appropriate so they are easier remembered. For example: "Hi, John, have you met my friend, Jane? Jane, this is my associate John from work. John is the smartest accountant I know. Jane, you should ask John about it since you're majoring in accounting." Also introducing a topic your associates have in common can help break the ice.

Image: http://www.entrepreneur.com/dbimages/article/h0/is-your-introduction-ready.jpg

RSVP's:


http://www.corrosionconnection.com/tips-wedding-rsvp-wording-for-your-wedding-invitation/wedding-rsvp-card-wording/

When you are invited to a meeting or a function related to business, you should always RSVP as soon as you can. Responding to an invitation quickly lets your host know that you care about the event. If you cannot make it, you don't have to go into details. Just decline respectfully, although this may not be the case for a business meeting as they're usually mandatory!



In General:

Although sometimes we hate to admit it, we judge people by our impressions of them. Therefore, we realize those people also judge us. Because of this knowledge, we should always be aware of how we present ourself. Being polite, having good posture, and conducting ourselves in a respectable way can have a huge impact on how others perceive us. We always want to leave a good impression in order to get the job, make the sale, gain a new position, add another name to our network, and all together show what kind of people we are!

Don't forget to take our quiz in the sidebar to test your new knowledge!

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Thanks to Peggy Post's "10 Etiquette Mistakes You Didn't Know You're Making" and Mercedes Alfaro's "Business Dining Etiquette: Where Business and Social Skills Meet."

When Faced With Unusual Circumstances...

Sometimes in a business setting, you are hit with “unusual” circumstances. In this instance we use “unusual” as meaning “unordinary.” When your meeting over meals is a little different than what you expected, here’s what you’ll need to be prepared:

DINNER AT THE BOSS’S HOUSE

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This can be an intimidating time since you are in a situation to be observed closely. But, with a few tips, you will find dining at the boss’s house is a great time to get to know your boss and learn from him or her!

When you arrive to dinner, make sure you are on time. If you are going to be late, call ahead. A good rule of thumb is Lombardy Time, which is about 15 minutes early. This way you can show you are glad to be there while also having a cushion of time in case there’s traffic.

You should appear dressed in a tasteful manner as well as well groomed. Your spouse should also be tasteful, and reminded to be on his or her best and most impressive behavior.

It is customary to bring your hostess a small gift like candy, wine, or something neat like, cute boxes of specialty tea or coffee. Make sure to compliment your host and hostess on “their lovely home,” and pretend you like everything they serve you unless you are allergic.

Over dinner, don’t bring up business unless your boss brings it up. You are primarily there to be observed. Your boss wants to know that you can present yourself well and control yourself in a social, but business related situation. With this in mind, don’t hurry off too fast after dinner. Talk with your boss for a little while; perhaps over coffee. Just make sure you don’t stay too long.

The next day, you should be sure to send a thank you card to your boss and his or her spouse thanking them for a lovely time.

COMPANY PICNICS

http://www.theco.biz/category/company-picnic/

While these occasions tend to be fairly family-friendly, you and your family should still be on your best behavior. Remind them that you are all there to make impressions and have some fun, so acting like civilized folk is extremely important.

When you get to the picnic, you should mingle with everyone there. Also make sure to introduce your family and ask about your co workers’ families.

Remember to relax and have some fun! As long as you don’t overdo yourself, picnics are a great way to get to know your co-workers and build professional relationships

DINNER WHEN YOU’RE THE ONLY WOMAN

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When you go out to dinner for a meeting, and you’re the only woman, it’s sometimes a little tricky to make sure you are appropriate.

As the tradition, Ladies First, you’re usually expected to order first. This can set the pace for the entire evening.  If you order expensively, everyone else will do the same.

Some tips for this are:

• Talking to your boss before hand to see how much he or she wants to spend
• Direct the wine list to the host since he or she is paying and should be the one to choose
• When you’re in doubt, tell the server you haven’t decided yet and will go last. Adjust your decision according to everyone else.

COCKTAIL PARTIES

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For all meetings over meals, it is important to RSVP, but during cocktails, this is even more appropriate. Sometimes these events can be expensive.

At cocktails parties, there’s obviously a variety of drinks. It is important to keep yourself in check. Just because there is alcohol doesn’t mean this is an entirely social situation. You need to control yourself and behave. The point of these events is to let off some steam and keep everyone in the workplace friendly.

It is important to mingle and meet new people. These events are great for networking! However, make sure to keep it appropriate. One of the biggest mistakes you can make at such a function is flirt. This leaves everyone with a negative connotation.

To these events, one also should mind what they dress. There’s no reason to go all out and wear your nightlife-weekend attire. Keep it business casual or along the lines of the work dress code.

Leave before the party is over. You don’t want to be the last person at the party as this will make your co-workers think you party too hard. Make sure to write your host a thank you note the next day!

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Knowing these tips, you should be able to handle “unusual” events when they crop up along your career. Making sure to be friendly, stay appropriate, and act sincerely will help you along your career.

Thanks to Successful Image LLC social strategist Deborah O’Connor’s Article “The Etiquette of Unusual Business Dining Situations” via midlandsbiz website.

Interview Tips

          Job interviews are the ultimate first impression. Ultimately, the employer wants to ask the candidate a handful of questions to see if they are qualified for the job. But it doesn't end there. Non-verbal cues are just as important during the interview process. While it is important to do your research and be prepared, it is important to know what could cost you the job right off the bat. The image below from CollageAtlas.org points out a few quick tips you'll need to know before your next interview.

Dining Around the World

          We all know that you don’t ask your Italian mother-in-law to change her famous lasagna recipe, or ask a chef in France for some ketchup. While these stereotypes are quite obvious, there are customs and mannerisms around the globe that may seem quite bizarre to Americans.  

          In recent years, there has been a shift for businesses to become more global. As a result, more and more clients and colleagues are likely to be from different countries or regions. It is not uncommon these days to have a meeting or interview with someone with different customs than you. Ignorance or misunderstanding a culture can offend someone and be detrimental to your meeting. Different cultures have different traditions and understandings for what is polite and appropriate. This can be as simple as deciding who picks up the check, eating with a fork, or the speed of which you eat. For example, in India it is impolite to leave any food on your plate after a meal, it is important that you finish your meal completely. However, in China, it is viewed as very rude to finish your entire meal, as it signals to the host that you did not receive enough food. Thus, it is important for us to be aware of dining etiquette around the world. The following image depicts just that. 

Pictures: Pintrest.com

The following website provides a more in depth description of dining etiquette around the world. This site breaks down expectations and customs by country, which can be quite helpful if you are traveling abroad or dealing with international clients. 

http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/international_dining_etiquette.html

Personal Appearance

          The way you dress and present yourself has a significant impact on your success. Nicole Williams, career expert at LinkedIn believes, "the problem with appearance is that it translates to performance". Even the most qualified of professionals can get negative results if they do not present themselves properly. No one likes to stand out for the wrong reasons, which is why we are going to lay out some ground work for how to look professional when at an over-meal interview, event, meeting and so on. 

Image: google images

1.  Understand what is appropriate in your industry.

2.  Make sure your clothes fit: pants are tailored with hems above the ground, shirts are not oversized or too tight.
3.  Don’t be too sexy.

4. Wear glasses that fit. 

    5.   Dry your hair.

    6.   Pay attention to your bag: make sure it is not overflowing with items, it is closed and clean. 

    7.   Don’t wear strong perfume.

    8.   Wear well-kept, polished shoes.

    9. Avoid ankle socks with pants.

    10. Wear nude pantyhose even when it is warm out.

    11.  Get regular pedicures.

    12. Don’t over-accessorize: bold jewelry or too much of it can be distracting.

    13.  Don’t wear noisy jewelry.

    14.  Pay attention to your watch: make sure it is polished and matches your outfit.

    15.  Facial hair shouldn’t overwhelm your face.

    16. Grow facial hair on the weekend or on vacation: don't decide to grow facial hair before an important event. 

    17. Trim your beard.

    18.  A goatee is rarely a good idea.

    19.  Wear rich colors to portray authority.

    20.  Avoid neon colors and flashy clothes.

A common mistake is not dressing appropriately for the event. Williams says "When you don't fit in, you're not as accepted and welcomed". This can hinder your chances of getting a job, making a deal, connecting with colleagues or getting your message across. The following chart describes different events and appropriate attire. 

Below are some examples of business casual outfits that would be appropriate for most everyday workspaces.

             
Images: Google Images

By following the guidelines and examples provided, it will be easier for clients and colleagues to focus on your message rather than be distracted by poor appearance.