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Showing posts from 2013

Party Perfect!

Party Perfect It's holiday party time! The season for festive sweaters, glittering jackets and sequined skirts! All year long we plan for this and some of us have saved last season’s bargain finds for this year’s festivities…but as we study the invitation, we wonder if that reindeer nosed sweater is really appropriate for this year’s event?   What should you wear? Oh wait! There's no dress code on the invitation! What should you do? Well, first, don't leave dress to guesswork. If you're not sure, ask the host/hostess. Next, realize that in spite of the dress code, your attire should always reflect professional presence. Just as one is cautioned not to overdo casual Friday i.e., change only one item of clothing, dress up times should be equally as conservative. Clothes communicate powerful messages about status, authority, power and rank. Whether we like it or not, success and professionalism have developed their own image within all social circles. Our clothi

To Tree or not to Tree...is culture the difference?!

I have a friend who has a love/hate relationship with Christmas. She loves to give gifts but tries to limit them to a certain age range to save money. She abhors receiving gifts because she feels it obligates her to reciprocate whether she can afford it or not. She likes Christmas trees and decorations but hates putting them up and taking them down. If she could, she would go into hiding and opt out of December all together. I am certain that she is not alone in this sentiment. Holidays can be expensive and stressful, but a few Christmas protocol pointers will help you hang onto your holiday cheer. What is the protocol for Christmas trees? Ultimately, there is none. Displaying evergreen trees in homes during winter months actually predates Christianity.  But many people think that the Christmas tree originated in America. But in actuality, the oldest record of a decorated Christmas tree is from Strasburg, Germany in 1605 and it was ornamented with apples, nuts, and other edibles!

The TRUTH about the turkey!

According to a recent news report, a certain brand of turkey refused to respond to the chemical concoction used to fatten them up for proper consumption this year. This means people who eat these turkeys may not gain the customary ten pounds this holiday season. Think of the repercussions of this audacious event. If we don’t gain, then everything associated with these turkeys will actually lose! The gym will not realize the substantial increase in people who pay them a retainer in case they ever decide to work off those few extra pounds. The doctors will lose revenue because high blood pressure and other obesity related illnesses will decrease!  Drug companies won't be able to sell beta blockers or appetite reducing agents, and their income stream will be reduced to mere pennies on our dollars! Magazine readership will wane because there won't be a need to read about how to “lose ten pounds of flab in 3 days!" Advertising sponsorship's will lose because with fewe

Excuse me, but is your rudeness interfering with my rights?!

“If I hurt your feelings in any way I just want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I don't care.” Author Unknown The world is tired of people. Tired of serving them. Tired of pleasing them. Tired of being polite! We see this everywhere but are still surprised when volunteers, public servants, or health care professionals disrespect people. I experienced this firsthand during a recent doctor's visit. As man approached the receptionist, she acknowledged him by shouting, "What are you here for?" Stunned by her rudeness, everyone looked up as he, in turn, answered her in a quiet and controlled voice. Ignoring obvious social cues, the receptionist loudly repeated the purpose of his appointment. Those of us who understood simple courtesy looked away to minimize his shame. Others, fully engaged in his private affairs and unconcerned about the rules of protocol and etiquette, gawked or laughed as they waited to see what would happen next. To their disappoi

Did you get caught??!

There is a lie being whispered into our heads these days. It says “nobody cares, you can just do what you want, and no one is paying attention”. It is a lie. People are watching and there will be consequences! The choices made to do something, be in a particular place, say a certain thing or phrase, all have the potential to cause regret and grief later. Character takes a lot to build but very little to destroy, or as political activist Thomas Paine states “Character is much easier kept than recovered.” Recently, several incidents in the media have highlighted how a slip in judgment can snowball into a loss of community respect and public humiliation. If what you are in private or the places you frequent are questionable, or even the demeanor you display under pressure is mean and nasty, it will change the way people view you. Your professional character will be questioned regardless of past accomplishments or family background. It will not matter that to you, past behavior was

No time for Masquerading!

Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.~ Kurt Vonnegut Jr Costumes tend to lend a sense of false security! What other time are we encouraged to be liberated behind a mask or an array of clothing, to release our inner inhibitions, all under the guise of fun?! But, the Account supervisor who donned her favorite purple “Lady Godiva” cape is probably rethinking her decision after she showcased her costume in full regale sans undergarments at the post work office party… or make that sheer flesh toned undies! Not only were her private parts on display but her professional standing and morality as well. Indeed her fall from grace had much to do with her fall from respect in the eyes of her coworkers, her superiors and her team. Although this is the time of year when we are certainly allowed to contradict and poke fun at our everyday demeanor with fake tattoos, outrageous hair and/or earring ornaments, we must also bear in mind that even fun can become a
Ethics or Etiquette? There is a smug assumption among business professionals that if they have good etiquette, they will consequently have great ethics. Often when asked to speak on the topic of etiquette, it is assumed that cloaked within the presentation will be subtle references to ethics. Most often, it is not there. They are not the same. Although one can be present without the others, a professional presence not only exhibits both, but understands the line of demarcation between the two. Business Etiquette is a learned but unwritten code of conduct that makes interactions predictable and professional. It originates from Protocols, which are the rules that govern a civil society. The rules combine common sense and consideration for others, into codes, for appropriate behavior in the workplace and in society as a whole. Business ethics are the principles and norms that serve as guides for good and bad conduct in business. The guides may written as codes of conduct, or not w

Shall we dress down "Protocol" for a dressed down society?

A Point of Protocol: “Protocol is everything.” Francois Giuliani  Protocol, an established code of behavior, is silent but steeped in tradition and required courtesies. A breach in protocol often goes unspoken but has ruined many promising relationships. Today’s “business casual” mindset underestimates the role of protocol in business interactions and negotiations. As the marketplace becomes more culturally intertwined, social intelligence and professionalism has become increasingly important.  Protocol and etiquette training provide the knowledge necessary to navigate with confidence and control in any business or social setting.  Protocol...knowing right and doing it! I am Pamela Coopwood,and I am Speaking of Protocol.