Hosting or attending a business dinner may be fairly simple in your own county, but one overseas could be a different story. Unfamiliar surroundings mixed with cultural differences can lead to simple misunderstandings that can easily offend or upset, and ultimately diminish business relationships. But with a bit of homework avoiding offending your dinner guests when traveling on business needn’t be difficult.
Don’t flush! (and other conference call etiquette)
These four tips can keep you from embarrassing yourself or your client.
When you start your site inspection from the back seat of a limo …
Recently I was participating in a Buyer Education Program in a not to be named city. The program was designed to get large group buyers together to experience the venues, service and options. All were seasoned planners or intermediaries. Following the closing of the program, several of us extended to see some of the area […]
Brush up on ‘jetiquette’
You wouldn’t dare put your elbows on the table during dinner. Sneezing and coughing without covering your mouth are out of the question, too. But have you ever examined your “jetiquette,” or air travel manners? Whether you’re flying first class or economy, a little civility goes a long way towards keeping the friendly skies truly amicable.
Double Dipping
Every event planner thinks about the social faux pas of double dipping when deciding on appetizers, but is the nasty little action really a health hazard?
OMG, TMI!
OK, so I’m a typical Gen Xer: I’ve got MySpace, Facebook, Quechup, LinkedIn and SecondLife profiles; I subscribe to blogs and list serves and have been known to podcast. But, it never fails to amaze me how many of my peers think what they broadcast on the Internet is private. Excuse me, but if you’ve got a LiveJournal or profile page set to public, people are going to read about how you chose to play golf instead of go to work.
Cell phone etiquette
Cell phones are ubiquitous and unavoidable but they can be very disruptive during a meeting. Here are some ways you can set expectations during meetings to make sure everyone observes simple rules of etiquette.
Why etiquette matters
Every time you meet someone, you are an ambassador for your company. Meetings and events puts planners front and center and in a business that’s built on relationships, business etiquette and good old-fashioned manners play an important role. Here are some important things to keep in mind:
