When a new colleague recently asked about my early years as an image consultant, it got me thinking …
Posted on March 9th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Diane's Reflections | No Comments »
Image Consultant Toronto: The Backstory
A Fairytale Wedding
Last month my husband and I traveled to Vancouver for a whirlwind weekend of celebrations leading up to a family wedding. Every occasion, from the groom’s dinner to festivities for out-of-town guests and ultimately, the ceremony and reception, radiated a magical sense of happiness.
Posted on February 28th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Dress, Social Etiquette, Special Events, Weddings | No Comments »
Corporate Menu Planning Primer
These are the individuals who organize and plan every function from conventions to luncheons and although the uninitiated may think this profession is glamour incarnate, the reality is very different. Military precision, troubleshooting par excellence and enough detail to drive an actuary crazy all define the professional Event Planner’s day.
During the training program, I gave a menu-planning workshop. Here’s a behind the scenes look at what we covered.
Posted on February 13th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Conferences, Dining Etiquette, Food, Special Events, Weddings, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »
E-body language — cornerstone of business communications
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 »
Working with positive people is a blessing
Working with positive people is, indeed,
a blessing; they bring joy and brighten the day. It’s like a gift of sunshine.
Posted on October 24th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Diane's Reflections, Food, Image Consultation, Social Etiquette | No Comments »
Decline in Urban Civility
Imagine my surprise when I arrived at work, started opening emails and the first thing that jumped off my screen was the subject line from the New York Times: When Passengers Spit, Bus Drivers Take Months Off
In the article, the journalist considers if passenger behaviour is the result of frustration with the system or reflects a general decline in urban civility. I guess after repeatedly hearing about transit drivers as targets, I tend to side with the “decline in urban civility” theory. Sad but true.
Posted on May 28th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Business Etiquette, Communication, Social Etiquette, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »
Executive Presence and Polish Spell Etiquette
As a Certified Image and Etiquette consultant, for over 25 years I’ve watched the definition of etiquette evolve and expand, especially in the world of business.
Thirty years ago, anyone using the word etiquette in everyday speech might have been laughed out of town. Let’s face it; etiquette had a bad rap. It was synonymous with pretension – the Holy Grail of an elite fraternity of social snobs. Rather like curtsying at a debutantes’ ball. There were exceptions, of course. No one questioned the etiquette of addressing then President Jimmy Carter as “Mr. President” – a clear gesture of respect for both the office, and the man.
Posted on August 28th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Diane's Reflections, Dining Etiquette, Etiquette, Social Etiquette | 3 Comments »
Minding your PDA P’s and Q’s
’d venture to say that PDAs are more commonly carried than pens, or even combs, in the pockets and purses of most urbanites. Every week, I receive questions for BlackBerry etiquette or iPhone protocols and our May newsletter provided tweetiquette tips. Social networking is a part of daily life and often provides a wake-up call with the first tweet of the day.
We have become a nation of archivists – meticulously recording even the smallest of details. Although the accent is on “social,” some would say there’s a dark side to all this documentation. And that’s exactly what prompted a group of New York City’s avant-garde writers to host twice monthly, off the record salons, or parties, where PDAs and photos are strictly verboten. Kind of a party hearty atmosphere – with no fear of recrimination. But an over the top, Bacchanalian fête is not the intent. Rather, the point is to cease and desist from chronicling every nanosecond. (One could argue that the hosts have, indeed, made a clever PR move.)
Posted on August 18th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Communication, Etiquette, Social Etiquette, Techno-Communication | 1 Comment »
I am so sorry!
The entire incident was no big deal; I’m simply using it to illustrate my point that saying “sorry” often falls into the category of empty words.
Posted on August 4th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Communication, Diane's Reflections, Social Etiquette | 1 Comment »
Gym Etiquette or “Correct Form”
Some friends and colleagues, notably women, have left the locker room behind for yoga and Pilates studios, but I‘m sticking and staying with my regular workout at the gym. Not every day, but three times a week – early morning, at lunch, or in a pinch after work – I visit the gym. And I’m not alone; many of us rush to the gym for that holy hour in honour of our health, our body and our sanity.
Perhaps my initial decision to work with a personal trainer was motivation – kind of an insurance policy that once I joined the club, I’d go. Mere membership was no solution to staying fit.
Posted on July 30th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Etiquette, Social Etiquette | 3 Comments »
