Jacqueline’s Etiquette Tips

The Art of Regifting: The Etiquette of Recycling Horrible Holiday Gifts

Now that the holidays are over you're probably wondering what to do with those gifts you'll never use. Is it appropriate to re-wrap an unwanted gift and present it to a friend or relative as if it were new? According to etiquette expert, Jacqueline Whitmore, the answer is "yes," as long as it is done properly keeping these tips in mind.

Make sure the gift is in good condition. Give the gift in its original box. Be sure not to tamper with, open or use the gift and make sure the seals are intact.
Regift in different social circles. Make sure the person receiving the gift doesn't know the person who originally gave you the gift. To avoid this mishap, label any gifts you don't intent to keep by jotting down when it was received and who gave it to you.
The gift should be a good match. Before giving a recycled gift, ask yourself if the receiver will enjoy, appreciate and use the gift. If you're not sure, don't give it to them.
Remove the evidence. Before you re-gift, remove the original card that may be tucked inside the gift.
Retire unwanted gifts. Instead of re-giving those items that you'll never use like that old bottle of cologne, canned ham, stale fruitcake, or itchy sweater, give the gift to charity or place it in the waste basket so you and others will never have to see it again.

Cell Phone Courtesy

According to a recent University of Michigan poll, a majority of cell phone users acknowledge that they get irritated at other people for using cell phones in a public place. In an effort to help combat boorish cell phone behavior, Jacqueline provides some useful tips to help promote courteous cell phone use:

Put your phone on “silent” and let your voicemail take your calls during special events or business meetings.
Put others first. The people you are with should take precedence over calls you
want to make or receive.
If you are expecting a call that can’t be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time.
Don’t be guilty of “cell yell.”
Don’t discuss private matters in public places.

Going Global: Cross-Cultural Etiquette

In order to stay competitive in our ever-changing business climate, cultural competence and a global mindset are a must. Understanding cultural nuances for international business is challenging. However, very few executives take the time to do their cross-cultural homework so they can comfortably interact in this global economy. Jacqueline provides tips on how to clinch the deal while creating better relationships with international clients, customers, and colleagues:

Study gift giving customs.
Focus on the relationships and less on the deal.
Don’t be too casual with names or titles.
Speak slowly and avoid jargon.
Listen more; talk less.
Learn a few words in the language of the country you are visiting.

Etiquette Helps Enhance College Graduates’ Marketability

Thousands of college graduates will be flooding the job market in the coming months; however, many will lack the basic etiquette skills needed to successfully obtain employment. Research shows that only thirty-six percent of these graduates will send thank-you notes, yet seventy-six percent of business executives take into account post-interview thank-you notes when evaluating job candidates. A well-written note can leverage a graduate’s chance of getting his foot in a company’s door or give a seasoned executive an edge over others vying for the same account. Recent college graduates can stand head and shoulders over their competition with Jacqueline’s tips:

Personalize the thank you note to appeal to the recipient.
Write it; don’t e-mail it.
Keep it short and simple.
Verify the spelling of names and titles.
Send it within 24-48 hours following the interview.

Travel Tipping Etiquette

One way to show your appreciation while traveling or dining this summer is by giving a gratuity, commonly known as a tip. The word “tip” is the acronym for “To Insure Promptness” or “To Insure Prompt Service.” However, if you aren’t familiar with certain tipping practices, you may, from time to time, wonder about what’s correct, appropriate, or even expected. Jacqueline provides the following tipping guidelines while traveling:

Tipping at the Airport

Skycaps: $1.00 - $2.00 per bag. Tip more if the bag is bigger or heavier.
Taxi drivers: Ten to fifteen percent of the bill.
Limo drivers: Twenty percent of the bill.

Tipping at a Hotel

Bellman: $1.00 - $2.00 per bag depending on size and weight. $1.00 - $2.00 for every package or delivery to your room.
Housekeeper: $2.00 - $3.00 per night. If you ask your housekeeper to perform any type of special service, such as bringing extra towels or toothpaste and toothbrush, tip an additional $1.00 - $2.00.

Tipping for Valet Services

If you elect to use a hotel, restaurant, or shopping mall’s valet service, tip $3.00 -$5.00 each time the valet attendant retrieves your car. Overnight parking charges will be additional.

Tipping at a Restaurant

Wait staff: Eighteen to twenty percent of the bill before taxes; twenty percent or more for exceptional service and at least twenty percent for large parties of six or more or when dining in an upscale restaurant.
Wine sommelier: Tipping is optional; however, if your party is large and you order multiple bottles of wine and the sommelier is extremely helpful and attentive, consider giving five to ten percent of the wine charge.

Etiquette Principles Equate to Business Success

In business, a good reputation, a well-known name, and a prominent address are advantageous but are not enough to attract and keep employees and clients happy. While good manners have never been out of style, business etiquette is quickly becoming an essential business tool. In the wake of this impersonal era in which we live, good manners help strengthen business relationships. Jacqueline says the following principles outline the blueprint for success:

Be punctual.
Keep your word.
Always dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
Return phone calls and e-mails promptly.
Write thank you notes.

Master Your Mingle-Ability: Work a Room Without Working Up a Sweat

No one succeeds in business without building relationships with others. One way to do this is through networking. Jacqueline offers the following tips for making more meaningful connections and creating better relationships through networking.

Always have an agenda; know why you are attending the event and memorize names of those you wish to meet.
Keep your right hand free for handshaking.
Stay away from foods that are messy or that can’t be eaten in one bite.
Never go to an event hungry.
Don’t leave home without your business cards.
Don’t talk to, or sit with, only those you know well.

Business Etiquette: Means to a Friend

Ask any successful executive what’s the catalyst for his or her success, and you’ll hear, “It’s all about relationships.” In business, relationships are based on more than who you know. It’s based on who knows you. Jacqueline offers these tips for growing your network of contacts while making friends as well as customers and clients:

Practice remembering names.
Ask the other person open-ended questions and don’t talk too much about yourself.
Look for commonalities in the other person.
Before offering your business card to someone, always say, “May I give you my card?”
Make friends first; business will eventually follow.

New Hires and Seasoned Executives Starved for Dining Etiquette

Regardless of how skilled you are in business, poor table manners can squelch a deal. To succeed in business in today’s competitive global economy, your skills at the dining table must be on par with your skills at the boardroom table. As more companies are requiring their executives to set out from behind their desk and break bread with clients, colleagues and associates, dining etiquette is quickly becoming a required skill. Jacqueline offers the following tips to help executives entertain clients with ease and elegance.

Pay the bill in advance.
Select the best table.
Choose a restaurant convenient and comfortable for your guest.
Avoid chewable challenges.
Don’t talk with your mouth full.
Don’t overindulge in alcoholic beverages.

Netiquette: Minding Your Manners Online

For anyone in business, a big technology challenge is getting your e-mail message past spam filters and into your client or colleague’s inbox. However, once it reaches a person’s inbox, it may or may not represent your personal brand as professionally as you’d like. Jacqueline offers these guidelines to help ensure that you send a professional e-mail every time:

Craft a compelling subject line.
Treat e-mail like a business letter.
Keep it short and simple.
Never send an e-mail when you’re angry.
Don’t send anything confidential.
Read it and check your spelling before sending it.

Polishing Your Dinner Party Protocol

Private dinner parties have made their way into the business sector as more executives are choosing to entertain colleagues, clients, and coworkers in a warmer, more intimate setting. Dinner parties not only permit people from different levels, backgrounds, and professions to meet on intimate terms, they are also a primary, effective method of advancing social and professional objectives. Jacqueline recommends the following tips for anyone who wants to be a hospitable host or a gracious guest.

Host Duties

Choose your guest list carefully.
Separate cliques and couples.
Offer a diverse menu and an assortment of beverages

Guest Duties

RSVP: respond to an invitation before the deadline date.
Bring an appropriate hostess gift.
Send a thank you note the day after the party.

Suit Up for Success: How to Look Your Best at Work

Over the last decade, business casual has caused confusion and has oftentimes been the catalyst for costly chaos. However, the economic downturn is driving increased wardrobe conservatism, prompting workplaces to move away from relaxed dress codes instituted in the 1990s back to “professional career.” Jacqueline provides these guidelines to ensure that you look as polished and professional as possible:

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
When in doubt, err on the side of formality.
Mirror the client’s dress code.
Invest in quality, not quantity.
Buy quality accessories, i.e., handbag, briefcase, pen