It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday”, to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day. I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.

Too often Managers call regular meetings as a habit rather than considering whether a meeting is really necessary. Consider whether the meeting will be beneficial and what the objective of the meeting is. The purpose of most meetings is to have interaction; keep people informed; take action; make decisions; transfer knowledge or improve communication.

When a meeting is well planned, organised and the chairperson is well mannered and considerate it brings out the best in all participants, promotes positive interaction and everyone benefits.

What to consider when hosting a meeting:

Prior to your Meeting:

1. Consider what the purpose is and what you want from the meeting
2. Give enough notice of the meeting and who needs to attend
3. Ask, if you need people to respond to the invitation to the meeting
4. Circulate an Agenda in sufficient time before the meeting and allowing enough time for preparation if it is required
5. Advise the dress code if necessary

On the day:

1. Dress professionally and appropriately
2. Arrive earlier and try to be first to the meeting
3. Sit where you can see everyone and the entrance to any doors can be seen
4. Be Prepared – take any handouts, PowerPoint slides, paper and pen
5. Start on Time, be brief and keep to finishing time
6. If Extra Time is required then agree this with all the attendees or arrange to hold another meeting
7. Ask people to ensure their cell phones are off or on silent
8. Encourage communication; give everyone a chance to speak; coax quiet people
9. Be Patient
10. Thank attendees for their time and participation

Table manners can ruin your image

It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday” , to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day. I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.

Table Manners

Over the years British Table Manners have been regarded as a very important part of traditional British standards. With lifestyle changes, families are eating less together and often people eat on the go, therefore table manners have become very relaxed and quite often ill-mannered. However, people do notice good table manners, whether in business or when personally socialising, and respect people more for it.

Laying and Using the Utensils

The layout of cutlery and how they are used can vary, including in restaurants, as well as in  various countries. even in western countries e.g. United States and Great Britain.  In Britain the table is laid with the fork on the left, knife on the right and the spoon either on the right or above. American style of eating with a knife and fork requires that, after cutting with your right hand, you put the knife down and switch the fork to your right hand. Generally Europeans keep utensils in the same hands throughout the entire meal.

Banqueting Table

You should not start your meal before everyone has received their food. However, when at a banquet table, you may find the two people to your left and right have been served and you are waiting for your food. Then it is a good idea to encourage others to start especially when the food served is hot, so it doesn’t get cold. When food needs passing around e.g. vegetables then take items from the left; and pass to the right. However if it starts the wrong way around then I suggest you go with the flow.

Tips to remember:

1. Eat with your mouth closed
2. Avoid speaking when your mouth is full and at least put your hand up to your mouth if you need to speak
3. Bread plate is on the left
4. Glasses for drink are on the right
5. Work from the outside in with your cutlery
6. Put your napkin on the chair, if you need to leave the table
7. Reach only for  items in front of you, ask that other items be passed by a neighbour
8. Take your time and enjoy your food and drink
9. Finish you food before you take a drink
10. Only put your napkin on the table when the meal is finished

Table manners can ruin your image, so make sure you don’t let yourself down.

Image credits to cutleryandcatering

It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday”, to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day. I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.

Manners and Social Skills

for Children

Good manners are a very important social skill that will help any child’s confidence and help them to be more successful both now and in their adult years. It will benefit them for the rest of their lives. However, we are not born with good manners, so children need to be taught them. People respond to us, including children, better when we have good manners and it will help children to achieve the respect they deserve. The best way to teach manners is for parents to lead by example, plus it is important to allow the child time to learn how to behave in various situations.

7 suggestions:

1. Ps and Qs

Teach your children to say “please” when asking for something and “thank you” when they receive something.  It shows respect and appreciation.

2. Telephone Etiquette for Children

Encourage your children from an early age to answer the phone clearly and politely.  It is a good idea to show them how to leave a message on an answer phone and advise them not to phone people at unsocial times e.g. early in the morning or meal time. Having a conversation with a member of the family or a friend  will encourage them to make conversation in general. Many children have a mobile phone, from an early age; teach them not to shout, not to use it when in company and to avoid a loud ring tone in public places.

3. Introductions

Teaching children how to introduce themselves may not be the norm but practising it now will benefit them when they are older. It will may, also,  help them when meeting new friends e.g. “Hello, I’m Paul and what’s your name?”  Don’t be afraid to introduce your children to friends when they meet them and teach them what to say in response e.g. “Hello, Paul,  it’s nice to meet you”. As they get older, on certain occasions, let them shake hands when you do and include girls as well as boys. Getting comfortable meeting new people will help them for when they go away to university and/or when they start work, as they will find it natural to open conversations with people and they will appear more confident, courteous and respectful. People like polite and well-mannered people even if they don’t comment at the time.

4. Letter Writing

Thank-you letters are used less so with text, phone and emails and yet the person that receives a handwritten note always remembers it with fond memories. Encourage your children to send postcards to grandparents, relatives or friends instead of sending emails and texts. It may cost more but it will also help them learn how to create a letter for when they go to work or may even encourage them to be an author.

5. Dining Manners

Sitting down together as a family for a meal is important for both children and adults and having no mobile phones is a great rule. Families who share their meals together tend to be more thoughtful and interested in each other as well as other people. It is also the perfect time to teach your children table manners. Encourage them to help you lay the table as this will teach them what goes where.

Many children (and adults) eat too quickly which is bad for their digestion as well as bad mannered. Teach them to eat slowly, quietly and with their mouth closed. Create a rule for how to leave the table; kids should stay at the table until excused. For example they can say “Thank you for my meal, I enjoyed it. May I be excused, please?” You may also want to encourage them to bring their own plate and cup to the kitchen sink or even load it in the dishwasher. It will help introduce the habit of being tidy.

6. Eating out in Restaurants

It is good to eat out with your children, so that they become familiar with being waited upon. However, meals will take longer when served by waiters/waitresses, which they will need to be aware of. Remind them of their “Please” and “Thank You” when served.

7. Social Skills

Not all children find it easy to make new friends, encouraging them whilst they are young will help them in later life. These skills will give them confidence when dining with strangers and generally mixing with new people. You never know – it may refresh and improve your own manners at the same time!

The Queen meets thousands of people every year, but this year, in particular with it being her Diamond Jubilee, many more of us will have the opportunity to see her at various engagements. Perhaps you may see her in your local area or during the Jubilee weekend in London.

How to behave when meeting the Queen

People can feel nervous or afraid, they will flap, when they meet the Queen or members of the Royal Family. Sometimes people wonder how they are supposed to behave when they meet the Queen. The simple answer is that in today’s modern times there are no obligatory codes of behaviour, but I suggest the best way is to acknowledge her with a smile.  If you are lucky enough to see her close or even speak to her then there are some traditional forms of greeting you may wish to do:

• For men this is a neck bow (from the head only) whilst women do a small curtsy.
• On presentation to The Queen, the correct way to address her is ‘Your Majesty’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am’ (to rhyme with jam or ham)”.
• All other Royals are to be addressed as “Your Royal Highness” and thereafter as “Sir” or ‘Ma’am’.
• Royal spouses -  how they are addressed depends on their sex. Wives assume their husband’s status and should be addressed as ” Your Royal Highness” and thereafter as ‘Ma’am’. However, men, unless they have sufficient rank in their own right, are not referred to as “Your Royal Highness’ or ‘Sir’ nor should you bow or curtsey.

If you would like to meet the Queen or a member of the Royal family during the Jubilee year then see the latest news for where the Queen and members of the Royal family will be visiting.

Image credits:  The British Monarchy

It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to  “Etiquette Friday”, to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day.  I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.

Write a

Thank You Note

or Letter

In the modern world less thank you letters are sent, people either do not bother to thank or they text, email or phone. Yet when we receive a thank you note that is hand written, it’s something we cherish and remember. It gives us a real feel good factor. When you send a thank you note it will also make you feel good about yourself. The cost may be a lot more than a text, email or phone call, but it is well worth it and you will certainly be considered for an invite again or a better present!

Writing a thank you note shows our appreciation for a present; an event or dinner we attended or even an interview we may have attended. It shows our respect for the time and effort taken and for being chosen as a guest or the opportunity for an interview. An employer will appreciate that you as an interviewee have shown your gratitude and it will help you stand out from the crowd.

Choose quality note paper or a note card that is appropriate to the person and event. Say something nice about the present, event or interview, but don’t lie and don’t exaggerate. Keep the note exclusively about their kindness or the event and not about other matters. Always start with Dear (Name) and not Hi or Hello and write as soon as possible after the event.

After a job interview thank them for their time, do not grovel, but show your interest and finish with how you look forward to hearing from them once their final decision has been made.

Encouraging children to write thank you notes for presents they receive will help them to show appreciation and thoughtfulness towards others.  It will help them to improve their
writing skills and may even help them to become an author!  Relatives and
friends will truly appreciate their note.

Picture credit: http://blog.flourishstudios.co.uk/

When you have a clear out of your wardrobe, before you decided to get rid of the items on eBay or to a charity, why not consider revamping or modernising the items. Small amendments can change or update a garment to make it much more suited to your figure or update it for this season.

It could be the colour doesn’t suit you, then consider dying the item or looking to see what other garments you could wear with it to change the look e.g. add a scarf; turn a dress into a top and add a different colour trousers or skirt; amend the neckline. Work out what is wrong with the garment and how it can be adjusted. A good tailor or seamstress is worth their weight in gold to ensure your clothes fit you well, but they can also give you ideas on how clothes can be adjusted.

Remember to apply this to items you keep but never wear, consider why not, and think of adjusting them to suit your personality and  lifestyle.  I have just sorted my 88 year old mother’s wardrobe. She has shrunk over the years, but some adjustments have given her some great items. She is also wearing some of my classic items that I no longer wear after having had them adjusted.

As an image consultant I sort many wardrobes, so here are some of my tips for revamping your wardrobe:

10 Tips on revamping an item

1. Change Jeans to shorts or cropped jeans
2. Convert jeans to a hippie skirt
3. Cut the sleeves, make them into 3/4 sleeve or ruffle sleeves
4. Add a band of fabric from another garment in a different colour
5. Buy some lace, glitter or fancy trim to change the look
6. Add some fur to sleeves, necklines or old boots
7. Shorten, change to diagonal or amend the hem
8. Add a waist, adjust the waist to Empire line or shorten the length.
9. Change a Round neck line to a V neckline
10. Change buttons to a different colour

Making the most of your garments saves money as well as being good for the environment!

The first time I walk into an office of a company, I get a feel for what the company is like by the way people are dressed and by the way they interact with me. From the receptionist to employees I meet whether they are the person I have come to see or employees passing by. It doesn’t matter what level they are, they are leaving me with an impression.

Every companies employees dress style gives out messages.  What management need to be asking is does this message relate to their brand? All companies have an image some are very casual, others are very formal and still others are high fashion.

As an image consultant I always say in my employee talks to any company when you get up each morning and dress for work you should consider the brand of your company, the type of people especially clients you will be seeing and the image you need to present. Do you need to be friendly, assertive, authoritative or high fashion? Keep modern with your appearance but this doesn’t necessarily mean high fashion. An out-of-date dresser indicates they have an out-of-date attitude plus the style will age you.

Always dress your best, not now and again but everyday. Remember to dress for the job you want not the job you have. It is much better to be looking like the boss even if you are not.

Practice Good Driving Manners

It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to  “Etiquette Friday”, to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day.  I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.

Friday always seems to be a day when drivers are in more of a hurry, especially Friday afternoons. For some reason people who are usually quiet can change when they are behind a steering wheel. It may be due to the fact we are not looking at the person face to face and are surrounded by a lump of metal.

If someone offends you and drives like a lunatic or cuts you up then rise above it.  Don’t behave like them, count to ten or think of the colour pink to calm you and stay relaxed.

7 Reminders:

1. Consider others – all drivers including slower drivers, cyclists, pedestrians,  traffic wardens and tollbooth attendants.
2. Give way to other drivers - allow other drivers to join the queue e.g. from out of a side road.
3. A Thank You - remember to acknowledge when someone lets you into a queue or out of a side road.
4. Keep your distance - don’t drive too close to other cars.
5. Don’t cut other drivers up – be patient and allow for slower drivers and don’t drive too fast.
6. Parking - allow time for others to park and do not pinch another persons space.
7. Accident – if you do find yourself unfortunately involved in an accident, stay calm. Keep out of the way of traffic. Remember it is upsetting for everyone. See if anyone needs help or medical attention, if so call the emergency service.
8. Signal - use your indicators at all times.
9. Horn – limit using your horn.
10. Speed limit - be aware of speed limits especially in towns, villages  and in busy traffic.  Always allow pedestrians to have time to cross the road.

Remember to consider “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

Having the Appropriate Etiquette & Good Manners Gives Confidence & Good Social Skills

It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to  “Etiquette Friday”,  to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day.  I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.

The confidence that comes with knowing etiquette and being well mannered builds strong social skills; allows you to stand out from the crowd, and quickly builds successful and professional relationships. It is so important to be well mannered.

It is important to be well mannered when you go for an interview for a job and it can boost your chances of success as other candidates may well be poorly mannered.  Remember  to stand up when when someone enters a room, do not interrupt the interviewer, have good table manners if taken for lunch and always thank the interviewer/s for their time.

Good manners may not be commented on but bad manners will not be forgotten.

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

A brooch is a great accessory. Wearing a brooch can change the look of any outfit and can also make you feel stylish and feminine. No one wears a brooch better than the Queen and of course the quality and stones of her brooches are next to none.

A brooch can be used to bring attention to various areas of you outfit that compliment you body shape e.g. hips, waist, neckline or worn on bags, hats or a hair band.

The Queen always weras a brooch high up on her left shoulder, this brings the attention to her face and away from her body. It adds style and elegance to her colourful outfits.

Image credits:

http://chexydecimal.com/2010/09/orange-ya-glad-shes-betty-deuce/ http://royal-jewels4.tripod.com/brooch/qe2/page-1.html, http://royalexhibitions.co.uk/queens-jewels/queens-brooches/