business etiquette Archives - Professional Courtesy, LLC

Professional Dress Do’s & Don’ts

May 2, 2015 by procourtesy

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A big thank you to Certified Image Master, Marion Gellatly for being my guest blogger and for sharing her wisdom on fashion and professional do’s & don’ts for the office.

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts in the Workplace

By Marion Gellatly, AICI CIM, Powerful Presence

Have you ever felt confused about fashion choices in the workplace? You can usually point to something that isn’t appropriate while still having a hard time figuring out what the new standards are. The bottom line is that we all want to be respected and to show respect to others. By following a few simple dos and don’ts, you could quickly be demonstrating professional courtesy in the workplace.

Dos

1. Consider carefully what is or isn’t age appropriate for your work attire. Looking either too old or too young can be detrimental to your professional image. It’s safest to start with a larger dose of clothes in neutral colors in natural fibers with few details like ruffles, bows, buttons, or fringe. Be cautious however, as too much of a classic look can make you look old and stodgy.

2. Appropriate coverage is insurance that no one gets the wrong message at work. Commit to clothes that don’t show cleavage, don’t gap between buttons and aren’t too tight.

3. On the weekend you can throw on a shirt and jeans and go to your kid’s soccer or football game and blend in with the other parents. At work, it’s important to stand out as a professional. “Finishing” an outfit or looking “polished” is key. Add accessories (not noisy ones), wear shoes that aren’t scuffed, and be sure your nails and hair are groomed. Your work outfit isn’t put together until you’ve attended to these extra details.

4. Check the mirror once or twice before you leave the house in the morning. Checking yourself from every angle before you go out the door is a good idea. Consider installing good lighting in your closet and putting up a full-length mirror.

5. Wear enough makeup to have a polished look. Having a too-made-up face makes you look like you’re thinking more about what’s happening after five o’clock. Wearing no makeup is not professional either. Consider a minimum of powder foundation, a lip color and some eye definition with mascara, neutral eye shadows or brow pencils.

Don’ts

1. Your work outfits should generally not be the place where you express your strong creative side. But this doesn’t mean you need to look boring! Again, getting the right mix is most important.

2. Do you really want to take the chance that you’re looking way too casual? Think about your appearance. Do you look like you’re an asset to your company? Looking pulled together and well groomed sends positive messages. You may be ready to add a few pieces to your wardrobe that help you look like a leader.

3. Don’t wear accessories that can be distracting. Keep the noisy jewelry at home. Having fewer but distinctive accessory focal points is a great idea and will add to your professional image.

4. Shabby chic works as a furniture style but it’s not a good look in clothing. Oversized, rumpled clothes will take away your credibility. The antidote is well-fitting clothes in fabrics that don’t wrinkle easily. Examine the fit of your clothes. Are you in need of a good tailor?

5. Be sensitive to people who are allergic to fragrances. Allergies are becoming more prevalent. Strong cologne, perfume, deodorant or skin creams can throw people into coughing fits or worse. Go to work unscented.

Wouldn’t it be nice to completely stop thinking about what to wear to work? It would be great to know you’re looking your best while you’re doing your best.

If you’ve been thinking, wishing, hoping for someone to guide you in creating a professional image and style to reflect how extraordinary YOU are, sign up for a complimentary 30-minute session with Marion Gellatly of Powerful Presence at http://powerful-presence.com/get-started.html. Or, you can stay in touch with Marion by “liking” her page, www.Facebook.com/powerfulpresence.

Marion Gellatly, founder of Powerful Presence in 1991, is a Certified Image Master (one of only 12 in the world) who teaches the importance of image in communicating confidence and competence in today’s business world. She shows her clients how achieve their goals by developing a professional presence that communicates confidence in themselves and credibility with their colleagues and clients. Marion offers in-person or on-line workshops, and laser focuses her expertise with one-on-one private consulting. Powerful Presence programs are designed to suit you.

Personal Compliments at Work

April 18, 2015 by procourtesy

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The recent appearance of “No Cat Calling Zone” signs that have popped up on New York City streets is raising the question about remarking on people’s appearance, especially men to women.The signs are an attempt to draw attention to how that cat calling makes women and men, too, feel. Many feel objectified by those rude comments and some even feel physically threatened.

I think this also opens up another discussion…is it ever okay to offer a personal compliment to a co-worker?

To work in an environment where no one compliments anyone could be a pretty sterile environment. But I do think it is important to be careful about whom you compliment and how you do it. The tone and content of the compliment make all the difference in how it is perceived. Some compliments are loaded with innuendo.

The relationship of the person giving the compliment to the person receiving the compliment is important, as well. A superior complimenting a subordinate on what they are wearing or how they look could be interpreted as harassment or an attempt to diminish the personal authority of the subordinate. Especially, if it is a male superior making the comment to a female subordinate.

However, co-workers who know each other well and have a healthy work relationship probably wouldn’t be damaged or feel threatened by hearing that someone likes their jacket. Regardless of whether the compliment came from a man or a woman.

The compliments and remarks to avoid and that can cause a big ripple at work are the ones that can sound sexist. For instance, the suggestion that someone looks “hot” in something or anything pointed about body parts should be avoided at all costs. What one would say to compliment a date, probably shouldn’t be said to someone at work.

While I don’t think it’s okay for people to make comments just because a woman or man, for that matter, is wearing something sexy. I do think that woman should be cautious about wearing clothes that are too tight, too short, or too low in the work place.

Research tells us that women are judged more severely by what they wear than men, not fair, but it is true. So, that is another reason, women in particular, should be judicious about what they wear to work. Even if no one says anything out loud, sexy clothes at work are distracting for everyone.

So, should you offer a compliment to someone at work on their appearance? It isn’t a black or white answer, but when in doubt, don’t say it out loud. Consider complimenting the person on their work performance and their professional abilities instead.

Perfume Etiquette

December 12, 2014 by procourtesy

Perfume on pink background
Perfume Etiquette
So, you love your perfume and enjoy wearing it. However, any fragrance, such as cologne, perfume and aftershave should be used sparingly in any situation, but especially at work. People should have to get fairly close to you before smelling your special potion or signature scent. You would never want your fragrance to precede you into a room or hang in the air like old cooking smells, after you have gone. Your scent should attract people, not irritate or repel them.
Many people are hypersensitive to perfume or even allergic to it. It can cause migraines, nausea and a general unwell feeling for some who are exposed to it for long periods of time. If you work with someone and have to share a fairly small space and their scent is causing you discomfort, it may be time to tell the offending person. Telling a person politely that his or her fragrance is causing you to feel sick may be all that is needed. However, if the individual doesn’t respect your request to lighten up, you may need to take the issue to your supervisor or HR person so he or she can intervene. Today, the continued exposure to an unwelcome scent can be equated to having to endure secondhand cigarette smoke in the workplace, and some companies are being taken to task on the issue.
So here are some guidelines to keep in mind before you splash on your favorite scent:
•Consider the two-foot rule — people should not be able to smell your fragrance until they get fairly close to you.
•Choose lighter scents during the day and in summer months. Leave the heavier and exotic scents for nighttime and winter.
•Avoid wearing perfume in hospital settings (this applies to visitors, too) and on planes.
•Use lightly scented body lotions instead of perfume when you know you will be in close quarters with others.
•Don’t mix your fragrances.
•Don’t reapply a fragrance in public, and be mindful that the person wearing the perfume stops smelling it long before others do. Ask someone if he or she can still smell your fragrance before putting on more.
•If more than one person tells you your perfume is strong, believe them. Less is more!

For distinction, find a scent that everyone else isn’t wearing and make it your signature. And remember to put your perfume on before your clothes and your pearls. Perfume can be damaging to pearls and you don’t want your clothes to be permeated with your perfume.

Holiday Gift Giving at Work

December 10, 2014 by procourtesy

medical doctor holding gifts in hands isolated on white

Holiday Gift Giving at Work…
Gift giving at work can be tricky, so it is important to find out whether there is a gift-giving policy. The larger the company, the more likely it is that there will be a specific written guideline.
If the gift-giving policy is not a rigid one, find out what the tradition has been and try to follow it. Making the wrong move can cause hurt feelings and cause problems in the future.
Here are some other guidelines for gifting at work:
•Find out what people usually spend on gifts and stay within that price range. Spending more than others can make you look like you are trying to show people up or that you are not a team player.
•Do participate in the joint gift for your boss or supervisor. Giving a separate gift can make you look like a brown-noser.
•Choose gifts that reflect the interests of the people you are gifting. This is a time to show appreciation and to let recipients know you have put some thought into their gift.
•Stay within your budget when buying gifts. It isn’t about the cost, it’s about the thought. Be resourceful and clever when shopping. And be sure to wrap your gifts — that wrapping can make a usual gift look special.
•Avoid joke gifts; everyone doesn’t have the same sense of humor. Stay away from inappropriate gifts or gifts that are too extravagant, personal or sexy.
•Be a good sport and keep your sense of humor and play by the rules if your co-workers participate in the Yankee Swap (white elephant) or Secret Santa games.
•Give gifts privately to co-workers if you don’t have something for everyone.

Happy Holidays!

Office Christmas Party

December 4, 2014 by procourtesy

Business group people in santa hat at Xmas party.
Office Christmas Party…how to attend with style.
Corporate holiday parties can be stressful and unappealing for some people in an organization. However, you may be committing a huge faux pas and sabotaging your chances for advancement by not attending. Attending shows you are a team player. It is the opportunity to get to know those you don’t know well or have time to chat with during your regular business hours. And it is a chance to meet some of the spouses and significant others in your co-workers’ lives.

It is a bad idea for an employee not to participate, but an even larger mistake for a boss not to show up, without a very good reason. Not attending sends the message that bosses don’t really care about their employees and that they set themselves above those who work for them — a huge insult in my book. And if that is the message that the employees take away from their absence, it can damage the employees’ perception of how much they feel they are valued and how hard they want to work for the company. Corporate cultures and attitudes start at the top.

So, here are some tips to get you through the party and make it more enjoyable for everyone.

Be sure to respond to the invitation and let the planners know whether you are bringing your spouse or a guest, only if they are included in the invitation.
Dress for the event. This may be the time to jazz it up a bit with your attire, but be careful not to get too sexy. That plunging neckline may not be forgotten on Monday morning. Ditch your jeans…dressing appropriately shows you care.
If you bring your spouse or a guest, be sure to introduce him or her to your coworkers.
Mingle! This is a perfect time to meet others in the company you don’t usually have the opportunity to see.
If you are one of the bosses, circulate and don’t just hang with the other bosses.
Pace yourself when it comes to alcohol consumption. You don’t want to be the topic of conversation on Monday morning.
If a meal is involved and you are ordering off a menu, go middle of the road with price. Ordering the most expensive thing on the menu can look as if you are taking advantage.
Thank your hosts upon leaving and send a handwritten thank-you note the next day.

So when that invitation arrives for the company party, say yes to going. Happy holidays!

Professional Dress Do’s & Don’ts

Personal Compliments at Work

Perfume Etiquette

Holiday Gift Giving at Work

Office Christmas Party

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