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Missing Appointments

Whether you are going to the hairdresser, dentist or beautician it seems businesses need to text or phone to remind you of your appointment, as so many people do not turn up. Doctors’ surgeries and hospitals regularly have people who do not turn up for appointments. Surgeries often show the number of people who missed appointments the previous month. 1 in 10 people miss appointments in the NHS. Think of the cost as well as how many people could be seen by a doctor or consultant sooner.

Is this acceptable? Not really: it costs companies money and wastes important time slots that other people could have used. Now there are some considerations for people who can forget e.g. if they have dementia, a bereavement in the family or we can all make a mistake. But being disorganised and not noting an appointment affects many other people. People with dementia obviously need help and we should all be aware of people who can forget especially the elderly and try to find ways to  help them.

Reschedule or Cancelling an Appointment

In Business

We are all busy people and sometimes an appointment has to be changed, but it seems that more and more people think nothing of changing or cancelling an appointment. It is not only inconvenient to you but more often than not it affects several other people. It may be urgent, you may have double booked, but if you have a better offer then that’s where good etiquette comes in. Whenever you change an appointment at last minute always phone where possible don’t text or email.

Regularly Rescheduling or Cancelling Meetings

If you regularly reschedule meetings you will build up a reputation you are not reliable and this affects your personal image and brand. It also gives out the message you do not think the person or company is important. This person or company may well, one day, be the very person or business you need and you will have tarnished your reputation.

Five tips on good appointment etiquette:

1. Ensure you make a diary note of the appointment.
2. Personally contact the person when changing or cancelling.
3. Don’t give excuses and show you are more important.
4. Ask them when they can reschedule.
5. Do your utmost to fit in with them.

Ensure you turn up on time with a pleasant smile and if necessary apologise again for forgetting or rescheduling.

Baroness Margaret Thatcher

It is with sadness I hear the news that Margaret Thatcher has died today.  Whether you admired her or not, as the first woman to become the leader of a political party and then to go on to be the first woman Prime Minister in the UK there are some things us women can learn from her “signature look”.

Margaret Thatcher changed her style over the years and learnt to understand what suited her and what she felt comfortable in. Her wardrobe personality type was very much a classic – romantic. She enjoyed her power dressing skirt style suits but softened them with romantic pretty blouses. As a woman who worked in a man’s environment she learnt to have clothes to suit her and her position.

What are the things we can learn from Baroness Thatcher’s style and approach to clothes:

1. She knew what styles complimented her shape and that she felt comfortable in
2. She was always well presented, neat and tidy
3. She bought quality, value for money, with very good tailoring
4. She chose a few classic items as her key pieces that would last and added several blouses that would mix and match with her classic suits and add variety
5. She wore dresses and coats when travelling so that her outer coat looked fresh and pristine when she stepped off the plane to meet other foreign leaders
6. Her evening wear was simple and elegant and skirts could be mixed with a variety of tops
7. She always ensured she looked her best 7 days a week, as she worked 7 days a week, and she was aware that she never knew who would see her
8. She chose block colours and wide shoulders to compliment her shape, only changing the details of sleeves and nothing was exaggerated in her styles.
9. Her accessories (shoes, bags and jewellery) were very good quality, classic style to reflect her wardrobe personality and always went with all her outfits.
10. She was conscious to always have a budget. Margaret Thatcher’s style may not be our own wardrobe personality or suited to the business we are in, but we can all learn how to use the principles for a good basic wardrobe that will be the foundation of looking simple and elegant as a professional woman.

At all times, Baroness Thatcher was able to look professional as well as look feminine.

 

Guest Blog

LANVIN

Luxury Eyewear

For Men – Hot Picks for Spring/Summer 2013

For the Guys, where better to start than with James Bond…

TOM FORD

1) This Aviator from Tom Ford as worn in the recent Skyfall movie is an instant classic. Distinguished and refined; it looks the part in Hollywood and will look the part on holiday.

PERSOL

2) It takes a certain type of gentleman to pull off a man bag. If that man isn’t you, these folding classic Persol sunglasses are just the ticket. The design is well tailored and very slick, and allows the frame to collapse into a pocket size case. Nifty.

ITALIA INDEPENDENT

3) There are only so many ways most men can alter their usual style of eyewear, and texture is now one of them. “Italia Independent” offer some great variations of the classic wayfarer style, with the use of corduroy and velvet. It really shouldn’t work. But actually it does; and very well.

DIOR

4) Dior Homme have produced a limited collection of sunglasses that are possibly the most comfortable I have worn to date. They are extremely lightweight (titanium), very well tailored, and feel very Dior. Luxury as standard.

 

CELINE

 

5) Céline are fairly unseasoned in eyewear terms. The collection feels very fresh and represents original and distinct designs, headed by these. Preppy,  vintage and an early masterstroke from Céline.

Guest Blog

BVLGARI

Luxury Eyewear

Ladies Sunglasses Hot Picks for Spring/Summer 2013

CHANEL

1) Chanel’s  unmistakable opulence is in full effect, with the pearls on show in some  of their latest offerings. As we discussed with Angela, there are also some options of vibrant colours in Chanel’s collection to look out for too.

 

 

DITA

2) The cat eye trend is  firmly back on top of it’s game, and there are varying degrees of ‘extremities’  in this style from each designer. From a pool of Tom Ford, Fendi, Chanel and  company, we plucked a piece from Celebrity favourites “Dita”. Its everything this shape should be – big, bold and feline.

 

CHOPARD

3) The aviator is  perhaps the most iconic sunglasses style in history. Jewellery and Luxury brand  Chopard have reworked the style, to produce a masterfully crafted and stunning  piece, further warranting their superior Jewellery status.

BVLGARI

4) This piece from  Bvlgari’s recent release, is their eyewear offering as part of the serpentine  collection seen throughout the jewellery and accessory lines. These sunglasses  certainly have a distinctive ‘bite’ along the arms, but without little venom on the front – making these an extremely easy wear.

LANVIN

5) For the quirkier  preference, brand of the moment Lanvin have produced a super cool and very  directional piece in this, a much rounder shape. They have also produced a  bigger, and slightly softer version (if this model is a little radical for  your palette). We love them both!

Information supplied by Alistair at Luxury Eyewear Boutique, Eyesite. For further information, please visit  www.eyesiteopticians.co.uk or call Alistair on 01482 845651. Alistair is also available on twitter, @MrEyewear.

I continue my quest from 2012, when each Friday you join me in my campaign to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday” and to encourage people and companies to get involved. Hopefully my messages have reminded you to make some small changes, and that people will be more considerate to others and more aware of their manners. The goal in turn will create a more pleasant and positive society.

Nuisance Callers

Do You Get Marketing Calls?

Over the last hour I have had several phone calls,  thinking that someone  actually wants to talk to me, I pick up the phone and the phone goes dead. It is another marketing call!  Sometimes a number shows up whilst other times it doesn’t. I pay for the number to be shown due to this problem and to allow for clients who misquote their mobile number. However, telemarketers are now using local numbers to make calls to people, to seem more legit and have a better chance of people picking up.

The phone rings again, this time a number is showing, but no message is left.  This is starting to really annoy me especially as it is interrupting my train of thought.  I phone the number back and complain. It turns out to be someone who actually wanted me. I apologise and try to explain but now they put the phone down on me. This makes me feel awful even though I tried to explain and apologise. How a situation can escalate. I email the person apologise and explain and thankfully she understands and contacts me again.

Marketing calls are very annoying and can put you in a bad mood which can then reflect badly on you when dealing with other people. Does this ring a bell? The lesson, take a deep breath and only return or answer the call when you are more relaxed and in a better frame of mind to deal with the situation!

The phone rings again this time someone wants me to advertise in a local school magazine, it goes on! This time I am my usual self, polite but to the point! Not to waste their time or mine.

Remember always try to answer the telephone or return calls in a calm and relaxing tone, as much as possible!

Internet Clothing Companies Funding Charities

2013 seems a year when new clothing companies are offering garments, via the internet, combined with supporting charities.

Take for example a new company called IV Cuff who supply a range of luxury women’s and men’s shirts to wear, from the office to evening,  together with cuff links and ties for both.  The items are designed exclusively by leading designers from Italy & London.

The owners are a group of textile professionals, from the fashion industry, who have decided to bring all this experience and knowledge together to not only deliver quality fashion products to you directly from their factories, but to also give something back to society by supporting charities. Every time you purchase an item you can nominate your favourite charity.

Clients of mine are offered a 20% discount, quote  IVAMAM2013

IV Cuff quote – Our model isnt to discount all the time from inflated prices like many others. We reward our customers and people we know and their extended trusted networks only, not just anyone. I get so annoyed at retailers treating me like a fool! and giving just anyone the benefit of discounts.

I continue my quest from 2012, when each Friday you join me in my campaign to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday” and to encourage people and companies to get involved. Hopefully my messages have reminded you to make some small changes, and that people will be more considerate to others and more aware of their manners. The goal in turn will create a more pleasant and positive society.

Aggressive & Bullying Behaviour

Bullying and aggressive behaviour can happen at any time and anywhere from school to when you are in work or even in your personal life. From childhood we start to learn social skills and being aggressive or a bully is not an acceptable behaviour. It is intimidating for the receiver and can cause a person to lose their confidence.

Workplace

Aggressive bosses can bully their staff. This shows a lack of good management and professionalism, which can be caused by stress and lack of confidence. Ideally HR or senior management should find out the cause and give appropriate training to the people concerned. Personal conflicts are inevitable, whether in business or in our personal lives, but it is important to be assertive not aggressive when discussing or debating such issues. Certain personalities enjoy point scoring and often regard it as fun.

Prime Minister’s Questions

Houses of Parliament

Watching Prime Minister’s Question time often comes across as point scoring rather than a time for serious Prime Minister’s scrutiny. Question time in the Houses of Parliament is supposed to be an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to question government ministers. Too often we see ministers heckled, jeered and yelled at, with personal attacks and humiliation in a thoroughly unbecoming manner. This is not professional and doesn’t set a good example for the public, who should be able to look up to our government.

Remember to treat others as you wish to be treated and allow for people’s characters that may be different and they may be more easily offended than yourself. In business, always ensure you stay professional and try to be assertive when necessary and avoid being aggressive to prove a point.

Larger & Curvaceous Women

Twice a year we have “London Fashion Week”. Do the designers consider larger framed and middle-aged women? Sadly not, it seems that designers are taught how to design clothes for small framed or underweight women and for the very young. Yet the women who have the most surplus money to spend on clothes are generally larger than size 10 and in the 40 + age group.

So you can imagine how pleased I was this year to hear about  ‘London Plus Size Fashion Weekend’. The designers that were represented at the event covered various wardrobe personalities and one of my favourite Creative Romantic designers was there, Carolyn de la Drapiere, who sells affordable bespoke as well as ready to wear  items in wonderful luxurious fabrics. Carolyn designs all items  – dresses, tops, skirts or shirts for any occasion.

Other brands included Anna Scholz, Pauline et Julie, Simply Be, Scarlett & Jo,  young designer Syreeta Badu as well as Swimsuitsforall. It is great to see great fashion concepts and ideas for all sizes and let’s hope the fashion buyers in the High Street are taking this on board!

I continue my quest from 2012, when each Friday you join me in my campaign to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday” and to encourage people and companies to get involved. Hopefully my messages have reminded you to make some small changes, and that people will be more considerate to others and more aware of their manners. The goal in turn will create a more pleasant and positive society.

Thank You Notes

I was always taught by my parents to write a thank you note when I received a present or if I stayed as a guest with a relative. There seems to be an unwritten rule these days that an e-card or a text message will suffice. Yet everyone loves to receive a thank you note. It means so much more.

10 reasons to write a thank you note, as it can:

1. Demonstrate you really appreciated the gift.
2. Encourage you to complete a task after you have received or experienced other people’s generosity.
3. Show you respect the time and effort the person gave in hosting you for dinner, overnight stay or a weekend break.
4. Teach a child to be grateful.
5. Teach a child to show sentiment in a note and how to write a note.
6. Build up writing skills and develop good handwriting.
7. Bring a smile to the person’s face when they receive the note.
8. Shows you have good manners.
9. Improves your Personal Image.
10. Have people appreciate in return.

So remember to pick up a pen and paper and write a note of thank you next time someone gives you a gift, invites you to dinner, takes you out for dinner or you stay with someone.

I continue my quest from 2012, when each Friday you join me in my campaign to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday” and to encourage people and companies to get involved. Hopefully my messages have reminded you to make some small changes, and that people will be more considerate to others and more aware of their manners. The goal in turn will create a more pleasant and positive society.

Being Shy or Being Rude

In a social environment or in a business situation a person that is shy can be mistaken as rude. However rarely will a rude person be taken as shy; they are generally more verbal and expressive with their body language and show a lot more confidence.  If you appear distant and unable to interact with people very easily you may give the impression you are not interested in or don’t care about others. It is important to communicate with people whether in a social or business environment, but that doesn’t mean to say you have to try to be extremely chatty.

Shy people can be people who like to be quiet and yet can be creative or practical people, if you are one of these don’t feel bad about being shy, but practice basic conversation abilities. Try asking open questions when you meet people. If you talk to people they will talk back, you don’t have to talk about yourself or be a great conversationalist. In fact it is good not to talk all about you and find out about the other person not only do people like talking about themselves but it also helps to broaden your outlook and interests. Consider asking people a lot of general questions and most people will soon talk to you.

What is key is that you value yourself and that you are not shy due to a lack of self esteem and confidence. Sometimes shy people are basically overly critical of themselves and of others, or they don’t want to say anything stupid. If this is the case, then consider working on improving both your self esteem and confidence. One way to do this is to consider an image consultation which will help you look and feel good about yourself. Feeling comfortable with how you are viewed by others can go a long way to improving your self-belief and confidence.

Quiet people are often very resourceful and self-reliant. The solution is to practice talking to strangers and you will gradually develop some basic conversation abilities. As we get older we generally get more confident as we meet new and different people.