1. I can manage two sets of dining manners – private and public; 2. Etiquette makes you inauthentic; and 3. Being nice is all I need to succeed. I encounter many etiquette myths, but none more than these three. Rooted in our natural resistance to change and a misunderstanding of what etiquette is and how … Read More
Author: spencercraneadmin
Easy to Keep Resolutions (Finally!)
Okay, I know you are thinking that it is April and it is much too late in the year to be talking about resolutions. But, considering that most of us have already abandoned our resolutions for 2014, I think it is the perfect time to share a list of easy to keep resolutions that will … Read More
When is a Pat on the Head Taboo?
QUESTION: Recently, Estrin Education received a communication from a reader expressing her discomfort when a coworker pats the head of a client’s child. MY RESPONSE: Our increasingly global society yields many benefits, one of which can be a greater understanding and appreciation for other cultures and customs. But what happens if a custom from your … Read More
YES WE CAN! How to Survive the Office Holiday Party
Do you dread your annual office holiday party? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Sixty-two percent of Americans say they would rather go to the dentist than attend an office holiday party. (Okay, I made that up, but it’s believable, isn’t it?) Anyway, you don’t have to suffer. In fact, following a … Read More
5 Things to Know About Business Card Etiquette
1. Keep your business cards clean and crease free by carrying them in a business card holder. 2. Present your business card with the print facing the recipient so she won’t need to turn the card around to read it. 3. Take the time to read a business card that has been presented to … Read More
Mrs. Obama’s Elbows Upstage Her Arms
Mrs. Obama’s arms get a lot of well-deserved attention: they are toned, yet feminine – what many women aspire to. However, Mrs. Obama’s famous arms were recently upstaged by her elbows when she rested them on the table at a luncheon. Oh the finger wagging and tongue clucking! You would have thought Mrs. Obama … Read More
Business Dining Etiquette Quiz
Questions: When inviting a client to a business meal, you should ask her where she would like to go. T / F In a typical place setting, the beverage is on the left and the bread plate is on the right. T / F A seafood or oyster fork is placed to the left of … Read More
Business Dining Etiquette 911: Awkward Moments
When I was a young professional, there were a few business dining dilemmas that always caused me to anxiously shift in my chair as I wondered what to do. These were situations that I hadn’t thought through because the answers seemed obvious. Oh, how I agonized. If only I could tell my younger self to … Read More
TEMPorary Insanity
Being a temporary legal professional is hard work. Anyone who has ever done it, myself included, will tell you that. Consider that as the perpetual new kid on the block (be prepared for your new workplace nickname – “The Temp”) you are constantly under scrutiny: every interaction is an interview and every assignment is a … Read More
Business Dining 101: The Top Ten Questions
Most Americans agree that our table manners are not what they used to be. We are simply out of practice – who has time for Sunday supper with the family anymore? And regularly eating meals standing at kitchen counters and in cars hasn’t helped matters. Ironically, as our dining skills continue to wane, business dining … Read More