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:
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Put your phone on “silent” and
let your voicemail take your calls during special events or
business meetings.
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Put others first. The people
you are with should take precedence over calls you
want to make or receive.
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If you are expecting a call
that can’t be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time.
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Don’t be guilty of “cell
yell.”
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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:
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Study gift giving customs.
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Focus on the relationships and
less on the deal.
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Don’t be too casual with names
or titles.
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Speak slowly and avoid jargon.
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Listen more; talk less.
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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:
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Personalize the thank you note
to appeal to the recipient.
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Write it; don’t e-mail it.
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Keep it short and simple.
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Verify the spelling of names
and titles.
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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
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Skycaps: $1.00 - $2.00 per bag. Tip more if the
bag is bigger or heavier.
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Taxi drivers: Ten to fifteen percent of the bill.
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Limo drivers: Twenty percent of the bill.
Tipping at a Hotel
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Bellman: $1.00 - $2.00 per bag depending on size and
weight. $1.00 - $2.00 for every package or delivery to your room.
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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
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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
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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.
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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:
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.
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Always have an agenda; know
why you are attending the event and memorize names of those you
wish to meet.
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Keep your right hand free for
handshaking.
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Stay away from foods that are
messy or that can’t be eaten in one bite.
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Never go to an event hungry.
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Don’t leave home without your
business cards.
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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:
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Practice remembering names.
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Ask the other person
open-ended questions and don’t talk too much about yourself.
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Look for commonalities in the
other person.
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Before offering your business
card to someone, always say, “May I give you my card?”
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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.
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Pay the bill in advance.
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Select the best table.
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Choose a restaurant convenient
and comfortable for your guest.
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Avoid chewable challenges.
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Don’t talk with your mouth
full.
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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:
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Craft a compelling subject
line.
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Treat e-mail like a business
letter.
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Keep it short and simple.
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Never send an e-mail when
you’re angry.
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Don’t send anything
confidential.
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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
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Choose your guest list
carefully.
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Separate cliques and couples.
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Offer a diverse menu and an
assortment of beverages
Guest Duties
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RSVP: respond to an invitation
before the deadline date.
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Bring an appropriate hostess
gift.
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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:
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Dress for the job you want,
not the job you have.
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When in doubt, err on the side
of formality.
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Mirror the client’s dress
code.
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Invest in quality, not
quantity.
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Buy quality accessories, i.e.,
handbag, briefcase, pen
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