When it comes to corporate gift giving, many people tell me they feel they are navigating a mine field. Spend too little and you risk seeming unappreciative; too much and you risk embarrassing both your client and yourself.
As the holidays approach, rather than feeling anxiety over what to give, look at this as an opportunity to strengthen the bond with your clients, and express how you appreciate working with them. It isn’t hard if you follow few simple do’s and don’ts.
Posted on November 24th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Holiday Etiquette | No Comments »
Professor Albert Mehrabian is frequently quoted for his non-verbal communication research on what’s often called The 3 V’s: visual, vocal, verbal. His published studies indicate that, person-to-person, we interpret messages:
• Visually — 55% from facial expressions
• Vocally — 38% from voice quality and the way words are spoken
• Verbally —7% from the actual words
With techno or e-communications, the relevance of the actual word choice increases dramatically. Obviously, the spoken tone upstages language on phone calls — we hear anger or joy — but with emails, words become the stars of the show. From the minor 7% bit player in face-to-face communication, words now move up to 70%, a big change of roles.
Posted on November 28th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Social Etiquette, Techno-Communication, Workplace Etiquette | 2 Comments »
Clothing does send a message. But there’s an enormous side benefit to a well-groomed appearance and general sense of “dressing up” — it gives you a lift. Big time. One of the greatest advocates of this philosophy is my friend Bill Shaddy. As a former International HR Director at Pepsi, Bill knows “the right stuff” when it comes to stocking his closet. These days, however, things are a little more complicated. ill, I should explain, has been living with MS for the last 18 years and snaps are just easier than wrangling with a button and bitty hole. Rain or shine, Bill dresses up. His only concession is a stylish cane by his side.
Posted on October 26th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Body Image, Business Etiquette, Diane's Reflections, Dress, Image, Image Consultation, Menswear, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »
I am a real advocate of looking up the ladder to role models, for cues and guidelines, so I was truly exasperated to hear the following story: A young colleague of mine, let’s call her Mandy, returned from a recent meeting so agitated, not even an iced cappuccino (with whipped cream!) would calm her down. Mandy [...]
Posted on August 20th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Techno-Communication | No Comments »
Everyone’s an expert on etiquette. Especially when it comes to introductions. Yet many so-called published experts don’t get it right. They fail to explain the rules of introduction — how to introduce your boss, your colleagues, even your grandmother— succinctly and correctly.
Often, these experts’ published guides devote pages and pages to introductions — how to address royalty, or protocols for meeting a diplomat from a foreign land. Good and helpful information if you move in those circles, most of us don’t.
Posted on September 8th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Body Language, Business Etiquette, Communication, Conferences, Etiquette, Social Etiquette, Workplace Etiquette | 2 Comments »
