Connect With Me
Books by Jacqueline
-
Jacqueline's Videos
Jacqueline's Photos
Recommend My Blog
Copy and paste the code:
<a href="http://jacquelinewhitmore.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Visit Jacqueline Whitmore's Blog" src="http://jacquelinewhitmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/jwblogbutton.png"/></a>
06 Apr
What Does Your Handshake Say About You?
The handshake is a sign of goodwill and mutual respect. But in the business world a handshake-gone-awry can send the wrong message.
In my business etiquette seminars, I describe the four hazardous handshakes: The “Bone Crusher,” a.k.a. “The Terminator;” the “Finger Holder” or the “Queen’s Handshake;” the limp, dead fish (self-explanatory) and the “Rubber Glover,” where both hands are gripped (popular among politicians).
A handshake reveals a lot about a person. It reveals one’s traits, feelings, and motivations. It may also reflect how you feel about yourself. For example, someone with a limp handshake might not be as assertive as the Bone Crusher.
If you want to perfect your handshake you should stand when you shake someone’s hand. Look the other person in the eye.
Smile. When you extend your hand, make sure your fingers are extended and your thumb is up until contact is made. Give two or three quick pumps and you’re done. If you want to show a little extra sincerity, linger a few seconds before letting go.
Top Ten Business Etiquette Travel Tips
My year as a flight attendant with Northwest Airlines was full of fun and adventure.
In 1992, I had the good fortune to be hired as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines. It was one of the best experiences of my life but it was far from glamorous. On the one hand, it gave me the opportunity to expand my horizons, meet some very interesting people, and travel all over the world. In just one year I went to London, Paris, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dhahran, Cairo, Cayman Islands, and all over the U.S.
The worst part about my job, however, was dealing with rude and unruly passengers. Traveling can be stressful especially during these tough economic times, but that doesn’t mean that you should leave your manners at home. Here are my top ten business etiquette travel tips:
1. Dress well. You never know who might meet at the airport, in the car rental line, or on the airplane. A stranger may turn out to be your next client or customer.
2. Keep your voice low and wear headphones when watching movies or listening to music on your electronic device.
3. Respect your seat mate’s personal space. Keep your bags, laptop, newspaper, e-reader, arms, legs, and elbows in your immediate area.
4. Be prepared. Have your i.d. and boarding pass ready when you approach security.
5. Check your bulky bags. Don’t hold up the boarding process by trying to cram your oversize roller board into an overhead bin the size of a glove compartment.
6. Be kind to your flight attendants and others who serve you. You can tell a person’s true character by the way he or she treats someone in a service position.
7. Be courteous and allow passengers in the seats in front of you deplane first.
8. If you see someone struggling to get their bag in or out of the overhead bin, offer to help.
9. Open the overhead bin carefully and slowly. Items may have shifted during flight and may fall and injure someone.
10. Be careful not to recline your seat all the way if you know the person behind you is trying to work on his or her laptop or eat a meal.
Bonus tip: And please…when the flight attendant tells you to turn off your cell phone, do so immediately. Don’t keep talking and risk delaying the flight for yourself and the other passengers.
Do you have any tips to add? If so, I’d love to read your comments.
Style and Beauty are Ageless
TThese inspirational women demonstrate how, with a little imagination, you can be stylish regardless of age. Do you admire someone’s style? If so, who?
Students Brush Up On Proper Etiquette at MIT’s Charm School
You can be an absolute genius and still not know which fork to use. These MIT students know that they need more than just an advanced degree to get ahead in life. That’s why they’re learning the ABC’s of Business Etiquette at MIT’s charm school.
Do you think business etiquette should be a required course for all college students?
SHOEtiquette: What Kind of Shoes Does A Very Hip Etiquette Expert Wear
What kind of shoes does a very hip etiquette expert (a.k.a. VHEE) wear? Should I wear shoes that are ultra professional or can I venture outside of the etiquette box every now and then and wear shoes that are cute, fun, and stylish?
I recently posed this question to my Twitter friend, Meg Gomez @prettypinkpro and she offered these excellent suggestions (and pictures) on her blog.
Meg and I have never met in person, yet I think she captured my style perfectly! Let me know what you think.
Clothes the Deal: What You Wear to Work Really Does Matter
Business women spend countless hours on their education, networking, writing papers, getting credentials, taking workshops and classes — anything to stay competitive and get ahead, but a majority of them overlook their own visual résumé as part of the package.
Never underestimate the power of your own image. When you dress in a way that lets people know you have a sense of security, and present yourself in a professional manner, it makes a huge difference.
Call it “dress for success” or “dress for the job you want” — it’s more than an adage for women. Style and image have played and continue to play a crucial role in the career strategies and trajectories of many high-powered execs. How you look says a lot about you — whether you’re organized, lazy, fashion-forward, creative, or serious.
When you make an effort to present your best self, it shows respect for your employer, your job, and the career strata in which you aspire. When you dress sloppy, you send the message that your comfort and the way you like to dress are more important than your potential audience. When you dress well, you command the respect of your peers, and communicate what kinds of business opportunities you’d like to have. Read more
My POISED FOR SUCCESS Business Cards Arrived!
My latest marketing tool just arrived — POISED FOR SUCCESS business cards! A photo of the book is on the front and these business card etiquette tips are on the back:
- Don’t offer your card early in conversation; establish a rapport first.
- Always present your card with the print facing the recipient, and when you’re presented with a card, take a moment to acknowledge it before putting it away.
- Present your business card to the receptionist when you visit a company so that he/she can announce your name and company properly.
Let me know what you think!
New eBook: HOW TO MINGLE, NETWORK, AND REMEMBER NAMES Available August 30
Are you uncomfortable making small talk with strangers? Do you have a difficult time remembering someone’s name several minutes after you’ve been introduced? Would you rather stay home and clean your closet or do laundry rather than attend a dinner party or networking event? If so, you’re not alone.
Most people feel anxious just thinking about meeting and making conversation with new acquaintances. One of the reasons may be lack of preparation. Networking is like an exam. If you’ve studied for the exam, you’ll be less nervous and will show more confidence, authority, and poise.
Networking is not a numbers game; it’s not about how many business cards you pass out or collect. It’s not about how many products you can sell or whom you can instantly impress, exploit, or schmooze to get what you want. Proper networking is a gradual process of making genuine connections with people and cultivating those relationships for the long term.
In my new eBook, HOW TO MINGLE, NETWORK, AND REMEMBER NAMES (available August 30, 2011 by St. Martin’s Press), I will give you the tools to master your mingle-ability so that you will be able to get a job, keep a job, and succeed on the job. You will also learn what it takes to make your professional relationships more harmonious, productive, manageable, and meaningful.
In this 32-page eBook, you’ll learn:
- Five tips for the perfect handshake
- How to remember names
- What to do before you network
- The seven networking pitfalls and how to avoid them
- The three tips for feeling included, not excluded
- How to stay in touch and cultivate meaningful relationships
- How to get your foot in the door and befriend the gatekeeper
- Ten ways to become a more effective listener
- How to make small talk and why it’s important
- How to deal with difficult people and uncomfortable situations
- How to polish your dinner party protocol
- Dining strategies that will make you look like a pro
- And more!
HOW TO MINGLE, NETWORK, AND REMEMBER NAMES is just $1.99 and can be purchased here:
To preview excerpts of this eBook, click here.
Five Ways To Make Yourself More Memorable
After the handshakes and business cards have been exchanged, here are some surefire ways to make yourself stand apart from your competitors and become more memorable to others after a networking event.
- Remember That Follow-Up is Most Effective (and Impressive) If You Contact a Person Within Twenty-Four Hours of Your Meeting: If you meet someone at a business luncheon, send an e-mail later that day. If you meet a client or colleague for dinner, send a thank-you note or e-mail the next morning. Out of sight leads to being out of mind, so if you don’t stay in contact with or make it a practice of supplying prospects and clients with helpful, useable information, you may quickly become a distant memory. By regularly staying in touch with your prospects and clients, you’ll ensure they’ll be far more likely to refer you to their friends, family, or associates rather than recommending your competitors. Read more
Five Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know
In its mildest form, bad office etiquette makes a workplace an uncomfortable and unproductive place. At its worst, it’s a grown-up version of bullying and can leave a company at risk for lawsuits. On the other hand, minding your manners makes good business sense, according to experts.
Good business behavior will set you apart from the competition. When you are mindful of your behavior and the feelings of others, you will be more likable and promotable. Here are five rules for exemplary office etiquette. Read more.