Tag Archives: business travel

Business Etiquette, Etiquette, Uncategorized

Position Yourself for the Business World with Personal Impact

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Are you having trouble getting a job? Are you already employed but continuously being passed over for promotion? If yes, the way you present yourself may be the reason. Questionable social skills are more than enough to give employers the wrong impression about you. In spite of stellar technical skills, if you don’t act the part or communicate with confidence employers may assume you aren’t good enough to be selected. This can be very discouraging for those having a hard time getting a job, or a promotion…to say the least.

You may think, “Why me? Nobody’s perfect! We all make mistakes.” And yes – saying ‘no one’s perfect’, rightfully applies. However, making too many mistakes or the wrong kind of mistakes can come across as nervous, careless or disrespectful. And ultimately jeopardize your chances of getting the job.

With the passage of time, etiquette and manners have evolved and undergone a sea-of-change. As societies have evolved, we have become more globalized, and new technologies have been developed requiring protocols for using them in a courteous manner. This evolution has made etiquette more confusing and more important than ever, which is just the reason why learning etiquette soft skills may be urgently needed.

We at Personal Impact can help. We specialize in teaching the essential skills needed in a competitive global market. This in turn can improve your chances of getting selected for a job, or moving up the corporate ladder. Our online course ‘Business Etiquette for Job Seekers & Promotion Seekers’, is specially designed as a self-study professional development course, so that you can learn how to apply the skills to make a great impression and get to the top. It was developed in accordance with corporate seminars presented by an international industry leader Kimberly Law, AICI CIP with over 17 years experience training individuals, companies and educational sectors on the topic of business etiquette.

In this course you will learn the interpersonal skills needed for acing an interview or getting promoted. We will show you how to introduce yourself appropriately to your prospective employer; how to use technology properly; and how to behave in a way to ensure that your coworkers and clients respect you, anywhere in the world. We will also cover common mistakes that may be perceived as defective behaviour.

Whether you are Looking for a job, or in a job that involves dealing with your local market or the international arena – this is just the course you need to enhance your business etiquette soft skills. Our online downloadable course consists of 26 lectures, a 37 page study guide based on the IITTI internationally accepted Western business etiquette standards, supplementary articles and resources which will teach you the business etiquette essentials needed for handling yourself and establishing rapport in any business environment.

The requirements of the course are simple: A desire to improve business etiquette soft skills, the drive to succeed at the workplace, willingness to learn and use new skills – along with the goal to stand-out as a professional.

With over 2 hours of content lessons include: interacting with western culture’s in a business environment, respecting co-workers and clients, the non-verbal pitfalls of body language, and communication skills needed for job interviews and at business meetings.

Our course aims at improving interpersonal skills in individuals who are unsure about how to behave during various business interactions and want to feel more confident in any business setting. With our help, you can learn the techniques to outclass your competition and WIN in the corporate world!

www.udemy.com/business-etiquette-for-job-seekers-promotion-seekers

Blog, Business casual, Business Dress, Casual dress, Etiquette, Men, Professional business attire, Professional Business Image, travel, Women

How to Get the Most from Your Fragrance

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This past summer I had the opportunity to vacation in Italy. Upon our arrival, one of the first things my friend said to me was, “smell the flowers.” I remember, at that moment breathing in the wonderful scent of Jasmine. Those of you who have been to southern Italy know what I am talking about.

It has been suggested that the sense of smell is the most powerful of all five human senses. It affects every aspect of our lives. Fragrance has been used throughout history as a way to influence the mind and the body. Although the use of fragrance is considered more acceptable in some countries and regions than others, over time it has become an important ingredient in our grooming products and many other consumer products that we use every day.

However, is it too much of a good thing? Wearing perfume, fragranced body lotion, fragranced hair styling products and fragranced deodorant, all at the same time, compete with each other and can be overwhelming to others. In in an effort to combat allergies and the overwhelming effect of too much fragrance, many public places in Canada, US and other countries of the world are becoming ‘Scent Free’.

When you wear fragrance, one way to be considerate of others is to appreciate that a little goes a long way. One way to tell if you have applied too much is by how much you notice it on yourself over time. Because you become immune to its odour, if you can smell it on yourself 30 minutes after application, you’ve applied too much. For more sparing application, try the following:

  • Apply on pulse points only
  • Spray fragrance into the air, then walk through it
  • Use body splashes or lotions that are less concentrated
  • Apply less – more often

Using less fragrance will save you money by making the bottle last longer. Another way to get the most out of your expensive eau de toilette is by exchanging some of your fragranced grooming products for fragrance-free grooming products.

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Etiquette, Men, travel, Women

Airplane Boarding Etiquette

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Over the past few years I have travelled by airplane for both business and pleasure and must say I have seen some of the best and worst behavior amongst the passengers. Before boarding or off-boarding your next flight use the following tips to show your consideration.

  • Boarding and off-boarding the airplane is no different than lining up for anything else. Wait your turn.
  • If you don’t have priority boarding, respect those who do. Wait for your seat row to be called for boarding and don’t push in front of others.
  • The same thing goes when leaving the airplane, Leave the plane in order of seating front to back. Allow those in front of you to exit first. Don’t shove and push your way to the front.
  • If you know it will take you longer to off-board due to carry-on luggage, small children or health issues. Wait in your seat to let others who are in a hurry leave the airplane first.

By waiting your turn and considering others, getting on and off the airplane will be more efficient and less frustrating for everyone. For more on travel etiquette see – How to Make Airplane Odors More Bearable

Dress for Success, Etiquette, Men, Professional business attire, Professional Business Image, travel, Wardrobe, Women

How To Make Airplane Odors More Bearable

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Unless you are traveling first class, the term personal space unfortunately does not apply on an airplane. Being in close contact with others over a long period of time can be unbearable, especially when unsatisfactory odors accompany them.  Here are three odors to consider before boarding an airplane:

  • With many airlines opting out of providing a meal for their passengers many of us bring food onto the plane to eat during our flight. When deciding what to bring consider your neighbours. While strong smelling foods may be appealing to you, they may not be appealing to the person sitting next to you. Whenever possible, choose food items with more subtle odors or odors that don’t linger.
  • Body odor is not only social killer; it can make the person sitting next to you on the airplane feel ill. Although it can be caused by lack of hygiene or dental care it is often as result of diet, health issues, smoking, or just too many hours cooped up on an airplane. Before leaving for the airport, take the time to take a shower. Brush your teeth before boarding the airplane and don’t forget to floss and gargle.
  • It may be your favourite fragrance, but it doesn’t mean those around you will appreciate it like you do. Many people are allergic to fragrance; many people are sensitive to fragrance; and many people just don’t like the smell of additional fragrance. Before you leave for the airport consider those who will be near you and apply your fragrance subtly or not at all.  Check out my blog post on Travel Packing Made Easy for more tips.
Business casual, Business Dress, Dress for Success, Etiquette, Men, Wardrobe, Women

Reinforce Your Company’s Image with Your Image

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Most companies spend a lot of money each year developing and maintaining their company image. As a representative of your company it’s up to you to reinforce this image by presenting yourself in a way that’s consistent with the company brand. Let’s face it, when we meet someone for the first time, whether we like it or not, we instantly form an impression about them. If the impression matches what they are trying to communicate, we are more likely to trust them. Once trust is established, it’s easier to build rapport and strong business relationships.

Business casual, Business Dress, Wardrobe, Women

How to Make Your Bust Look Bigger!

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Unlike the woman I met on the plane to Raleigh (who by the way, I am still jealous of), some of us would give… almost anything for a bigger bust. Fortunately there are some painless things you can choose to wear that will visually increase your bust size instantly: 

  • Fabrics with texture for your tops, sweaters and blouses
  • Loose flowing fabrics or fabrics that don’t cling
  • Extra bodice details such as Breast pockets, ruffles, tucks, pleats, scallops and yokes
  • Double breasted jackets
  • Collars that draw attention away from the bust area
  • Prints and patterns
  • A padded bra
Business Dress, Men, Wardrobe, Women

How to Keep Your Business Cards Handy

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When networking, rummaging through your wallet or handbag and pulling out a business card that is wrinkled looks unprofessional. An easy way to keep your business cards accessible and appear professional is to keep them in one jacket pocket or in an attractive two pocket business card holder. Keep an empty pocket or pocket in your business card holder for the business cards you receive. This way the transaction will be smooth, it will keep the business cards organized and you will appear more professional.

Dining Etiquette, Men, Women

Choosing a Restaurant – Who’s Choice?

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When you invite a client for a business meeting at a restaurant your role becomes the host. As the host it is your job to lead the way and make the decisions, even if you are from out of town. Although it is polite to ask the guest if they have a preference on where to dine, never ask the guest to choose the restaurant. This may put him in an awkward position

Etiquette

The Canadian Way to Exchange Business Cards

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As Canadians, we tend to adopt the customs of other cultures. And when it comes to the business card exchange it is no different. There are two ways that we Canadians exchange business cards the Japanese way and the European way. 

The Japanese / Asian business exchange is universally considered to be the most formal. The business card is held with both hands on the top corners of the card. Thumbs on top. The card is received the same way holding the business card on the bottom corners. 

The European business card exchange formula is considered a little less formal from a global perspective. However, it is still considered correct and many Canadians prefer it over the Japanese method. The business card is held in your right hand with your thumb on the top left corner of the card. Receive the business card with the right hand on the bottom right corner of the card. 

Either way, take a moment to look at the card before putting it away.

Etiquette

Business Card Etiquette

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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.