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
Business Etiquette
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
“What Baby?” Navigating Your Colleague’s Pregnancy
“Are you pregnant?” Many moons ago, I blurted those inappropriate words to a colleague as she washed her hands in the office bathroom. As I glanced at her reflection in the mirror, I noticed a tiny bump, and without thinking, I asked if she were pregnant. She smiled and said yes, pleased that I could … Read More
It’s Time to (Office) Party!
It is office holiday party season. Finally, an opportunity to throw off those boring work clothes, forget about those pesky business etiquette rules and let the real you out! Just kidding. (And if you didn’t catch the joke…I highly recommend that you continue reading.) Seriously, have a great time – mingle, laugh and if you … Read More
International Business Travel – Minding Your P’s and Queues
You’ve exchanged countless emails with your global business partner and you’ve followed her social media content. You feel like you know her – you can rattle off her work history for the past 5 years, her good reads, her favorite musical artists and where she vacationed last summer. So when it’s time for a face-to-face … Read More
“Business Casual?! What Does That Mean?”
Ask 5 people to define business casual and you will get 5 different answers. This is the problem with business casual, the rules aren’t clear. Prior to the 1990’s, dressing for the office was easy – you dressed up. Suits and ties for men and pantyhose and makeup for women were all part of the … Read More
Are Good Manners A Requirement for Business Success?
“Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.” Laurence Sterne As I sat down to write this business etiquette blog for The Estrin Report, I wondered, are good manners a requirement for business success? Not surprisingly, the answer is an unequivocal no. Anyone who has worked in corporate America can effortlessly … Read More
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