Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The Protocol Post
Tips, Tools and Resources for Polished ProfessionalsApril 2008
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Greetings! It's my belief that you can see a person's true colors by watching them interact with a server in a restaurant. If a person is rude to the server then they are probably rude to their employees. If they are kind, then they most likely treat their employees with kindness and respect. You can also tell a lot of other things about a person when you are having dinner with them. Most people let their guard down and some even go into a feeding frenzy when they get around food and wine!

This issue of The Protocol Post contains tips to help you be a savvy host or guest at a business meal. Dining etiquette programs are very popular with my corporate and university clients. Perhaps it's because CEOs are catching on to the fact that their employees may be losing business everyday because they don't know how to order, what to order, and how to carry on polite conversation at the dinner table. Prospective clients and customers will always vote with their feet and we need not give them any reasons to NOT do business with us. A dining etiquette program is an excellent way to learn something new while improving your social skills.
I hope you enjoy your Spring and that you treat yourself to a few nice dinners. Just remember not to leave your manners at home!

Dedicated to YOUR success, Jacqueline Whitmore

Dining Etiquette Tips for Meeting Success

When hosting a business meal or function, certain codes of conduct in the planning and execution of the event are important to remember.

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Scheduling meetings over a meal is common practice, whether it means taking a single client out to dinner or hosting a large business luncheon. There are certain guidelines and codes of etiquette both and your clients should follow before and during a business function to ensure its smooth execution.
Go with what you know. Forget about treating an important guest to a restaurant you haven't tried yet. Choose a place where your guest will feel most comfortable. Make sure that it is within a short driving or walking distance from your guest's office so it's convenient for him to get back to work on time. Consider your guest's likes and dislikes. You wouldn't want to take someone to a steak restaurant if they are a vegetarian. Find out ahead of time what kind of food your guest most enjoys and plan accordingly.

Choose your table in advance. Choose a table in a quiet location that will give you and your guests maximum privacy. Avoid tables situated next to the entrance, near the kitchen, or near the restrooms. If you are on a tight time schedule, call ahead and ask the server to put glasses of water, a basket of bread and a pitcher of iced tea on the table just prior to your arrival. If you are meeting for breakfast, ask the server to place a pot of coffee and assorted muffins on the table. Be sure to alert your server if you have to leave the restaurant by a certain time.
Pay the bill ahead. Guests should never be expected or feel obligated to pay, even for the tip, coat check, or valet parking. Settling the bill early with the server will avoid any uncomfortable situations like figuring the tip as your guests watch and wait for you.

Talk business later. Just because it's a business meal doesn't mean that work has to be the main topic of conversation the moment you sit down with your guests. In fact, it's customary to wait until after the main course, but before dessert, to bring up professional matters. The purpose of a business meal is to create and solidify relationships. It's about getting to know each other better on a personal level so that when you go back to the office, you can follow up and create a more solid relationship, so that business will follow. After the main course, you may want to excuse yourself and go to the restroom to check and see if you have any food in your teeth. When you return to the table, you will feel more comfortable talking business without any worries.

Don't overindulge. When ordering food, remind yourself that the emphasis should be on business, and therefore the food you order should be simple and easy to eat. Foods like large sandwiches, pasta in a red sauce, and baby back ribs should all be avoided. Don't drink in excess. If you are just dining with one guest and he chooses not to drink alcohol, you should decline also. If you are dining with several guests, you may enjoy one or two glasses of wine if your other guests decide to order wine.

Send your thanks. A gracious guest should always show appreciation by saying thank you. A handwritten note carries more weight than an email or a phone call, as it show that you put in some extra time and effort.

Etiquette is not about being stiff or stuffy. Like anything else, the more you practice good dining etiquette the more comfortable you will be and the more natural you will look and feel whether you're invited to a company holiday party or a board of directors' dinner.

Train-the-Trainer Series
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The Art of Promoting Your Etiquette & Image BusinessAn Interactive Tele-Seminar Series to Help You Grow Your Business and Your Income

If you're an etiquette or image consultant who would like to make more money and take your business to a higher level, you'll want to join Jacqueline Whitmore as she offers a live, five-week series over the telephone entitled, "The Art of Promoting Your Etiquette & Image Business." Each week, she will share her tips and tools to help you make a greater profit, garner more media exposure, and position yourself as a local and national etiquette and image expert.
April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 20088:00pm Eastern, 7:00pm Central, 6:00pm Mountain, 5:00pm PacificTuition: $299.00 for all five classesWhen you register for this series you'll receive complimentary audio downloads.

All classes are one hour in length. Can't attend all five sessions? No problem. All sessions will be recorded and will be available to download and replay at your convenience. During this fun and interactive tele-seminar series, Jacqueline will teach you the following:

Course 1: You: The Art of Selling Yourself· What is branding and why is it so important?· How to design a 12-month marketing plan that will dominate your competition.· What marketing materials you REALLY need and what you can live without. · How to develop your niche and separate yourself from your competitors.· Timely topics to talk about and how to connect with an audience.· When to speak in your community and how often.· How to identify your customers and potential customers.· Why paid advertising hardly works and drains your wallet.· Why you are your own best business card.

Course 2: Print & E-Marketing Strategies· How to uncover the hottest etiquette and image trends.· Writing a winning news release and when and where to send it.· Seven deadly sins of a news release.· When and where to send a photo opportunity release form.· How to establish a web presence.· The truth about online advertising.· Why your website is your most indispensable marketing tool.· Top five website mistakes.· The benefits of e-newsletters and blogs.· Low cost or no cost publicity ideas.· How to become a columnist for your local newspaper.· How to capitalize on your personal accomplishments.· How to tie your area of expertise into the holidays.

Course 3: Essential Elements for Radio & Television Publicity· What reporters are really looking for in an expert.· How to choose the right media to target and how to increase your chances of getting interviewed.· How to pitch editors, reporters and producers.· What to say and do when a reporter calls you.· How to professionally praise or thank a reporter without looking like you're trying to win favor.· How to develop your media kit.

Course 4: How to Make a Profit in the Etiquette & Image Industry· Pricing your business for profit: What to charge and how to get paid what you are worth. · When to charge an honorarium versus a fee.· How to determine how much revenue you need to make on a monthly basis.· Fee alternative ideas -- what to request when a speaking fee is not offered.· How to write professional business proposals that stand out and get you booked.· Essential elements of a contract.· How to avoid the "what do you charge?" trap.· How to avoid the "hourly wage" syndrome.· How to design and promote a profitable public seminar.· How to avoid paying room rental charges and other unnecessary public seminar expenses.

Course 5: Taking Your Business to the Next Level · How to develop summer camps and other specialty programs.· Garner exposure through speaking at conferences and seminars.· How to get hired by universities and department stores and what programs to offer.· Why cold calling and mass mailings never work.· How to create spin-off products that will supplement your income.· How to become a corporate spokesperson.· Why you need a speaker's video and how to get one made.

Space is limited to the first 15 students. To register for this five-week tele-seminar series, click here.

Tax Deductible: Tuition is tax deductible. All expenses of continuing education taken to maintain and improve professional skills are tax deductible according to Treasury Regulation 1.162-5 Coughlin vs. Commissioner, 203 F2d 307. Please contact your accountant for details.
Jacqueline Whitmore -- In the

News~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~At Office Functions, Cover Up And Put The Glass Down(Office) Party fouls -- It's business-social, not social-businessLakeland Ledger, March 31, 2008
What To Do When A Co-worker StinksPerfumes, body odor, rotting food; the key is to handle such situations delicately.Lakeland Ledger, March 17, 2008

Join Jacqueline for Dinner~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are attending the Association of Image Consultants International Convention, let's have dinner together! This is a good time to have some fun, meet other image and etiquette consultants, and get to know each other better.

WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 2008, Tampa, FloridaRESTAURANT: To be determined
If you'd like to get together for dinner, email Jacqueline at info@etiquetteexpert.com: To register for the AICI Conference on May 15-19, 2008.

Did You Know?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A-OK: This gesture is widely accepted as the American "okay" sign, except in Brazil and Germany, where it's considered vulgar or obscene. This gesture is also considered impolite in Greece and Russia, while in Japan, it signifies "money," and in southern France, "zero" or "worthless."

Read Jacqueline's Blog

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Finishing School

Contact Ms. StarrPhone: 704-596-9866http://www.the-finishing-school.com/contactus.htm

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The Polished Professional
Manners Really Do Matter
Tea Etiquette
Men's Wardrobing
Wine Wisdom


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Key Training Components of the Modern Day Finishing School SM



First Impressions-Lasting Impressions

Makeovers: Presenting You at your Personal Best

The Key Components of a Winning Image

Poise, Polish, Posturing and Positioning


The Six P's of Personal Marketing Persona

Packaging

Positioning

Presentation

Promotion

Passion


Business Attire: The Right Statement Every Time

The Corporate, Communicator and Creative Career Profiles

Appropriate Office Attire

The Psychological Effect of Color

Attention to Detail

Authority Dressing Guidelines

The Ten Most Fatal Business Faux Pas




Five Rules of Personal Marketing

Exude Confidence

Create a Powerful Aura

The Art and Science of Impression Management

Powerful Introductions

Create a Powerful Verbal Business Introduction Card

Develop a Prosperity Consciousness




The New Dress for Success Rules

Wardrobe Basics and Beyond

Personal Style-Professional Style

Dressing for Your Corporate Culture

Accessories that Spell Success

Business Casual Guidelines



Manners Really Do Matter

Meet, Greet and Mingle

Dining Etiquette - The Basics and Beyond

Tutorial Dining Lessons

Cocktail Parties and Other Off-Site Business Functions

Saying Thank You with Style



Ambassador Skills and Communication Essentials

What Your Body Language Really Says About You

Conversation Mastery

The Art of Introductions

Your Thirty-Second Commercial

Email and Cell Phone Etiquette

Assessment Tool Profiling

The Art of Instant Rapport