Yes there is such a thing as business card etiquette. https://www.personalimpact.ca/2010/02/business-card-etiquette/
Category Archives: Etiquette
Business Card Etiquette
Even though the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver / Whistler will be a social event for most, there may be an opportunity to exchange business cards. Unfortunately many of us were never given instruction on how to conduct this exchange. Here are a few tips:
- Wait to be asked – don’t just hand them out.
- When asked for a business card it is polite to reciprocate the exchange
- In many cultures the business card is considered very important. When receiving a business card, take a moment to look at the card before putting it away.
- Respect the card – don’t just stuff it into your back pocket. Place it carefully into a business card holder or into a jacket pocket.
- Don’t pull out your pen and make notes on the card. This again is about respecting the giver and the card.
- When handing out a business card, the card is held with the print facing upright on the card so the receiver can read it.
Olympic Etiquette – Is Vancouver Going Overboard?
It is an exciting time to be living in Vancouver. With the Olympics less than two weeks away, there is a buzz of excitement in the air and a lot of controversy. Over this past week I had calls from Global TV news and CTV news asking my impression of a etiquette / protocol policy guide that the City of Vancouver, created for it’s staff members. The media wanted two questions answered. 1) Is a protocol policy manual a waste of tax payer’s money? 2) Does the policy manual go overboard with the amount of detail and some of the items it covers? Here is what I said on CTV.
Olympic Protocol – Are We Going Overboard? Kimberly Law’s Perspective
My only regret? I didn’t try harder to get tickets.
9 Steps to Breaking Bread with Ease and Grace
If you have ever been unsure of which bread plate is yours; or whether you are supposed to butter the whole slice of bread. You are not alone. As an etiquette expert many of my clients and friends ask about the etiquette of eating bread and rolls. Here are the steps to take next time you are faced with the challenge of breaking bread.
- Your bread plate is the one to the left of your place setting.
- Don’t reach; Ask the person closest to the bread basket to pass it to you.
- Take the bread or roll and place it on your bread plate.
- Ask the person closest to the butter dish to pass it to you.
- Using the butter serving utensil (if there is one) or your butter knife (if there is no serving utensil), place some butter on your bread plate.
- Rip off a small piece of bread / roll, the appropriate size for one or two bites.
- Butter that piece of bread / roll holding it on the plate while spreading the butter.
- Eat it with your mouth closed and enjoy!
- Repeat…
Use this etiquette for Holiday Dining and Everyday Dining…Happy Holidays!
Hat Etiquette
It’s not just baseball caps anymore… This season hats are hot. They are everywhere and they come in every style for both men and women. Recently clients have asked questions about hat etiquette. So here are a few tips:
In the past when hats were popular there was a distinction between men’s and women’s hats. And each had its own rules of etiquette.
Traditionally men would tip their hats to say hello and they would always be taken off indoors and / or before sitting down at the table to eat.
Women’s hats were considered part of their outfit. They were pinned into their hair so they would stay in place during the day. When socializing inside they would keep their hat on as an accessory, even at the dining table.
These days, hats are worn for function and fashion. As women have adopted men’s hat styles as their own, the line for gender specific hats and etiquette has become grey.
For men the rule remains the same. Please remove your hat or cap when coming inside and always before sitting down at the dining table.
Women should remove their hat if it is for function or if it is a traditional men’s style hat or cap. If the hat has feminine details and forms part of an outfit it may be worn as an inside accessory.
This Hanukah, Christmas and New Year show respect to your family and friends with Hat Etiquette…
Cutlery Etiquette How to Make a Great Impression
I have travelled quite a bit over the past few years and one of the things I have noticed is that many restaurants have moved away from traditional place settings at the dining table. Although I suspect that this is part of their branding efforts to be seen as upbeat and unique, it can also be confusing and occasionally embarrassing for their patrons. This makes it more important than ever to familiarize yourself with various types of cutlery and know how to use them.
If the table is set traditionally, utensils are used starting from outside the place setting, and working in. If it isn’t use the appropriate utensil.
When holding a knife the fork is always held in the left hand. When in the left hand, the fork is held with the tines facing down. The knife is held in the right hand with the index finger on top. When eating American style after cutting the food, the knife is placed on the upper right corner of the plate and the fork is transferred to the right hand with the tines facing up for eating.
Here are a few more tips:
- Only begin eating when everyone has been served. The host picks up his or her cutlery first.
- Once a piece of cutlery is picked up, it is never put back on the table. It lies on the plate with the handle resting on the rim.
- When taking butter, use the butter knife or serving utensil to place it on your bread plate. Then use your butter knife (spreader) to butter your bread.
- Leave spoons on the service plate or saucer. An exception is made if the soup plate or soup cup has no service plate.
If you want to take a break, but don’t want your plate taken away, signal this by placing the fork and knife at right angles on the plate, tines facing down.
- When dining American Style, hands go in the lap. Wrists, arms and elbows stay off the table.
- When eating European Style, keep hands and wrists above the table at all times.
With either style the elbows stay off the table until the meal has ended.
When the meal is finished, place your fork and knife on the plate diagonally like the 10:20 clock position. The knife sits above the fork with the blade facing toward it. Napkin goes to the left of the plate… never on it. In some regions it is the custom to place the fork and knife vertically in the centre of the plate instead of the 10:20 position.
Email Etiquette
Even though email can be a real time saver, it is still a form of written correspondence. Business emails should be written with the same formality and etiquette as a business letter.
- State the subject in the “subject” box.
- Start with a salutation like Dear… or Hello… or Greetings…
- Emails should be brief and to the point.
- Don’t send sensitive information by email. Accidents do occasionally happen.
- It’s easy to whip off a quick email, but remember to pay attention to spelling and grammar so that you are clearly understood.
- Do not use all capital letters in an e-mail message: it comes across as shouting.
- If you are sending an email to a group, and the individuals do not need to know who else is receiving the e-mail, use the “blind copy” box to type the email addresses. This prevents people’s e-mail addresses from being sent to others.
- Your e-mail signature should include: your name, title, company name, company telephone number, your direct line and fax number.
- When e-mailing different time zones, be clear about dates and times.
- Address people as Mr. or Ms. unless they specify a different title in their signature.
- Respond to e-mails in a timely manner. Either right away or, if it will take longer to obtain information, within 48 hours reply that it will take longer to get the required information.
- Business email addresses should come across professional and reflect your industry and position.
- Be respectful of other people’s time; do not send junk-mail, chain letters or jokes.
Personal emails can be more flexible in format and content although etiquette is still important. Remember to use your manners like you would in a verbal conversation. Things like please and thank you can make a big difference in an e-mail. No matter what the topic, always be considerate of the person you are writing to. Also, remember that emails sometimes end up in the wrong inbox and are unintentionally read by the wrong person. Don’t include content you might regret someone else reading. Manners matter, no matter what that format – verbal, hand-written or electronically.
Texting and BlackBerry Etiquette – Kimberly Law
About a year ago three teenage cousins were invited by their grandparents to go out for dinner and then to a play. They all seemed excited about the activity until they arrived at the restaurant. After they arrived, two of the three girls received text messages. Instead of shutting off their cell phones and enjoying the company of their grandparents and each other, they started text messaging their friends and each other. This left the grandparents and the third cousin sitting there feeling left out, annoyed and uncomfortable. At the theatre they continued text messaging throughout the play. Each time a text was received the phone would vibrate and the light came on, annoying the people around them. It was also embarrassing and insulting to the grandparents.
Unfortunately this is a commons story and it happens often. When it comes to cell phones and text messaging we often forget our manners and etiquette. We don’t consider how the people around us might feel. Think about the last time you were kept waiting while somone you were with had an non-important texting conversation.
Some people think that portable devices such as BlackBerry’s used for texting, emailing and planning your day follow different rules of etiquette then should be followed for chatting on a cell telephone. I think that most would agree they are generally less annoying then being forced to listen in on a cell phone conversation just because you happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. However, just because they are more private and less disruptive then cell phones it, doesn’t mean you should use them at anytime. Checking and responding to e-mail, text messaging or planning your day on a portable device during these times is just plain rude!
- During a meeting, public event, lecture or in a classroom.
- Restaurants. (Unless you are alone)
- Places of worship, weddings & funerals.
- In someone else’s home or office.
- While socialising with others face-to-face.
When using any kind of electronic conversational device for texting, emailing or talking, consider the people around you and on the other end of the conversation.
Cell Phone Etiquette – By Kimberly Law AICI CIP
Cell phones are everywhere and used all the time. Over the past few years, cell phone use and misuse have gotten out of control. They can cause everything from general disturbances to road-rage. When it comes to mobile phones, be courteous to others and use a little common sense. Consider the following cell phone etiquette tips:
- Keep cell phone calls quick and to the point.
- Chat or text on cell phones when you are alone, not in public.
- Quirky ring tones can be very annoying. When in a public place or business setting, set phones on silence, vibrate or use a traditional ring tone.
- In a business setting, personal cell phones should be turned off.
- Keep personal matters personal by having these discussions in private.
- Don’t disturb people around you while talking on your mobile phone. Keep your distance from other people while talking.
- Don’t yell. Monitor the loudness of your voice and keep it at a low to moderate level.
- Use hands free devices while driving, for your safety and to alleviate the aggravation of those driving next to you.
Cell phones should be turned off in the following circumstances:
- During a meeting, public event, lecture or in a classroom.
- Restaurants.
- Places of worship, weddings & funerals.
- While watching a movie, play, or musical event.
- In someone else’s home or office.
- Public transportation.
- Hospitals.
- Elevators.
- Any time you may be disturbing others.
TECHNOLOGY VS CIVILITY – BY KIMBERLY LAW AICI CIP
In the Toronto Sun today there is an article called Rules of dumb, has our high-tech evolution resulted in a lower standard of etiquette? It mentions a situation where a teacher took a cell phone away from a student and then read all of her saved text messages in front of the class. Obviously he did this out of frustration over the perceived lack of respect. However, were his actions more respectful? He obviously embarrassed the student.
Catherine Bell of Prime Impressions shares some great comments in this article on cell phones and technology from an etiquette perspective. When asked if the rules have changed, she says that the rules haven’t changed, but that people’s perceptions of them have changed and that is just as important. “The whole idea of civility and respect is wanting in all environments,” she says. “They’re throwing out the window the consideration for the people around them.”
So I guess the question is, whether consideration for the people around us is still important. Or has society evolved to a place where taking other people into consideration by using manners and etiquette is no longer important? And if so will this lead to a continuation of civilization as we know it or will it lead to chaos?
Catherine Bell of Prime Impressions shares some great comments in this article on cell phones and technology from an etiquette perspective. When asked if the rules have changed, she says that the rules haven’t changed, but that people’s perceptions of them have changed and that is just as important. “The whole idea of civility and respect is wanting in all environments,” she says. “They’re throwing out the window the consideration for the people around them.”
So I guess the question is, whether consideration for the people around us is still important. Or has society evolved to a place where taking other people into consideration by using manners and etiquette is no longer important? And if so will this lead to a continuation of civilization as we know it or will it lead to chaos?
From my perspective as a certified image consultant and etiquette expert, it would seem that a society lacking in civility would be taking a step backward. Civility evolved over time to create order and respect in the lives of others and ours. However, lately I have seen examples of incivility everywhere. It is my personal belief that we need to get back to basics and consider before hand how our actions might affect others. Then act appropriately.
