Business Etiquette: The Fastest Route to a Successful Business- 4/4 part series.

Business Etiquette: The Fastest Route to a Successful Business- 4/4 part series.

Part 4 of 4

In our last post, Ms Syndi Seid---a leading authority on international etiquette and protocol and founder of Advanced Etiquette---in her interview with LuxeSF, discussed actual business behaviors surrounding business etiquette. In the last of our four part series, Ms. Seid discusses different business behaviors between East and West Coasts here in the United States.

LuxeSF: Who uses your services most?

Syndi: I am typically hired by corporations and companies, and businesses within the hospitality industry. Yet the true users of my services are the individual participants who attend my seminars and presentations. They are the ones who hold the keys to success, in whether---or not---a company changes its core culture toward building a better workplace and environment to do good business. Long after I have served a company, it is typically the individuals who enroll in our continuing education programs, including a complimentary subscription to our "Etiquette Tip of the Month" newsletter, filled with lots of new tips each month.

LuxeSF: Do you find any difference between mainstream and luxury marketers?

Syndi: Yes. For luxury marketers it is even more critical they deliver and provide the ultimate in guest and customer service. When dealing with higher level items, the luxury buyer expects a superior level of service along with it. As the world is becoming more diverse, the multi-cultural luxury buyer will also expect service providers to be savvy, well educated and trained in how to present themselves well, without offending their clientele. Luxury marketers must become what I call a "true cosmopolitan"...a person who is worldly and well-educated on how to adapt to any situation, among people from all walks in life.

LuxeSF: As a transplant from the East Coast, it strikes me that business etiquette as practiced in northern California is woefully lacking. Is that true? Is there a regional difference?

Syndi: There is a regional difference and it's mainly reflected in the culture of the city or the region. On the East Coast, for example, they are much more punctual. Lack of meeting punctuality is not accepted, whereas here it's tolerated. Also, wearing proper attire to various events is also much more practiced on the East Coast than West Coast.

LuxeSF: Why is that?

Syndi: Bluntly and simply put, etiquette has not been part of the fabric here on the West Coast. We allow and tolerate bad behavior at home, in the workplace, and in public, whereas, back East people have been known to lose their jobs over poor and improper behavior. In the West, we glorify the notion of being free, often at the expense of common courtesies and civility. Yet, I think the pendulum is swinging back. People are recognizing the importance and value of treating others properly as the key to success in all aspects of life, not just in business. By being educated in these areas, you will be able to deliver better customer and guest service, live a more productive and happy life, and in so doing create a better sense of well-being in everything you do. This is truly what etiquette is all about.

To view the full article and other information on the Luxury Marketing Council-San Francisco, see http://www.luxesf.com. To contact Ms. Seid as a trainer or speaker, or to find out more about Advance Etiquette, please visit www.advancedetiquette.com.

 Syndi Seid is the etiquette expert of choice for the world’s leading organizations and media properties seeking comprehensive training on social etiquette and international business protocol.

As founder of Advanced Etiquette Worldwide, Syndi helps senior executives, business professionals, and main-line employees overcome their fears and insecurities to find poise, confidence, and authority in any social situation,

anywhere in the world  http://www.advancedetiquette.com/about.html

Business Etiquette: The Fastest Route to a Successful Business- 3/4 part series.

Part 3 of 4

In our last post, Ms Syndi Seid---a leading authority on international etiquette and protocol and founder of Advanced Etiquette--- in her interview with LuxeSF, discussed why business etiquette is so important for any business in this time and age. She continues on here discussing the actual business behaviors.

LuxeSF: If I'm a CEO, and I've got to make a decision to spend money on implementing or inculcating a cultural shift in my organization---namely, I want everybody to engage in positive business etiquette practices---how do I justify that monetarily? Can I show an increase in P&L? Is there a business case to be made?

Syndi: First of all a CEO cannot think of this as an "expense" where you are putting out money without hope of any return or profit. Rather, this is the best "investment" a company can make toward building a successful business. For a company to fully incorporate the principles associated with displaying civility, etiquette, and solid good manners, there must be a corporate vision and directive from the top, through middle management as the interpreters of the vision, down through the managers who are the facilitators to monitor progress and take corrective action, with all employees working together to achieve the ultimate goal of building a better workplace and business. Business etiquette is something that must be incorporated into the fabric of the company, similar to how "change management" is achieved. The results, tangible and intangible, immediate and over time, are infinite and definitely measurable on a P&L statement.

LuxeSF: What are the most egregious practices---bad etiquette practices---that you see?

Syndi: Among my top worst practices are: 1. Not following up as you say you will. I constantly attend events and hear someone say s/he will call or send me something and I never hear from that person again. 2. Being habitually late to appointments; and 3. Mispronouncing a person's name in situations where you should have learned and practiced it ahead of time. When it comes to table manners, besides no elbows on the table, it bothers me when I see someone starting to eat before the host begins, chewing with their mouth open, talking with their mouth full, and making noises while eating. And then there are the people who show up to an event improperly dressed... mostly men who are not wearing a tuxedo or dinner jacket when invited to a black-tie event.

LuxeSF: What about cell phone behavior?

Syndi: Definitely cell phone/texting courtesies are among the top two most-requested topics for company training. The other one being email etiquette. Answering your cell phone in the middle of a meeting, in a restaurant, in a classroom, at the theatre, at a party is simply not appropriate. Yet most people are totally clueless and unaware of how disruptive this behavior can be. In my assessment, the lack of cell phone and texting courtesies is direct evidence of an uncaring, self-centered, unprofessional person and a person who has not been properly taught and/or disciplined for such poor behavior.

LuxeSF: Are there two or three maxims or rules of behavior that are core to proper etiquette?

Syndi: It's back to the basics. Think before you speak. Always say please and thank you. Always take care to be considerate and respectful of the other person before you say or do anything.  With diversity and globalization upon us, we have replaced the old Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" with a new Platinum Rule by Tony Alessandra, which states, "Do unto others as they would like to be treated." And when it comes to business, the rule now extends to say, "Do unto others in ways they don't even expect." This to me is the epitome in providing the ultimate in etiquette and exhibiting what we also now call "emotional intelligence".

Ms. Seid’s book credits include:  Etiquette in Minutes: 201 practical tips on business and social behavior by an international etiquette expert (www.etiquetteinminutes.com) #1 Best Seller The Law of Business Attraction… Secrets of Cooperative Success, co-authored with T. Harv Eker, and  Executive Etiquette Power.  Stay tuned for our last post in our four part series where Ms. Seid will discuss different business behaviors between East and West Coast.

Business Etiquette: The Fastest Route to a Successful Business- 2/4 part series.

 

 

Business Etiquette: The Fastest Route to a Successful Business- 2/4 part series.

Part 2 of 4

In our last post, Ms Syndi Seid---a leading authority on international etiquette and protocol and founder of Advanced Etiquette---in her interview with LuxeSF, discussed the foundation of business etiquette. She continues on here discussing why business etiquette is so important for any business in this time and age.

LuxeSF: Why have we lost that ability to know how to act?

Syndi: The loss of knowing how to act began during what I call the hippy-dippy era. Since then with each new generation, increasing personal interaction with immediate family, neighbors, and friends has been lost. There is no longer an abundance of good role models---celebrities or individuals---that reinforce the fundamental principles of civility, respect, honesty, and ethics. Schools and parents do not teach, reinforce, role-model, or discipline students and their children when inappropriate behavior is displayed. Worst of all, it is often the teachers and parents who are displaying the poor behavior. Bosses and employers do not have policies in place to reprimand staff members and employees for misconduct toward other co-workers, clients, and customers. We have been living in a society where rude behavior is tolerated in every area.

Case in point: In California and many other states there is a hands-free law for using cell phones while driving. When the law first came into effect, for about one or two days, many people did make the effort to comply. Yet with each day that passed, I would see more and more people talking on their cell phones with one hand holding the phone, pressed against their ear. These individuals have obviously chosen not to care about the law; have chosen to be lazy about the time and money it would take to purchase a hands-free device for their phone; have chosen to take the law into their own hands, daring a police officer to catch them; and worst of all jeopardizing their own life, the lives of others, perhaps even the life of a child, just because of their own selfishness. Part of etiquette is caring more about others than yourself.

LuxeSF: From a business perspective, what is the benefit of good etiquette?

Syndi: Business etiquette helps the business, the company, and everyone associated with it live a more healthy, happy, and productive life.  And by doing so, it reduces stress, lowers company costs, and increases profits. It creates a harmonious work environment where workers enjoy their work, like their bosses and co-workers, are recognized and rewarded for their accomplishments, and are less likely to develop various physical and mental illnesses, take extra days off, or quit their jobs.  What this boils down to is business etiquette helps build a better world in which to live.

LuxeSF: But is there any tangible business benefit derived from good etiquette? Can you quantify it in terms of metrics and accountability?

Syndi: Absolutely... although at times it is not an immediate return, it is definitely quantifiable over time. As an example, a Johns Hopkins study revealed that 65% of surveyed employees witnessed what they considered to be uncivil behavior in their workplace, and 70% of these contemplated leaving their jobs as a result of it. When a worker is unhappy in his or her job, it spills over to their personal life, which again affects that worker's business life. When we do not have a happy work environment, productivity decreases, new ideas are stifled, customers and clients are not as enthused to increase their orders and to be as loyal to your company. Stress kicks in, which results in higher medical expenses and higher turnover. Profits are lower as a result of all these added expenses and this results in a downhill spiral. Conversely, when workers arehappy in their work and environment, and the company and business thrives, everyone wins.

Ms. Seid was profiled on the nationally televised Good Morning America ABC station show, and was a guest etiquette expert on Trading Spouses, a Fox station show.  Stay tuned for the third post in our four part series where Ms. Seid will discuss actual business behaviors. To view more information on the Luxury Marketing Council-San Francisco, see http://www.luxesf.com

Business Etiquette: The Fastest Route to a Successful Business- 1/4 part series.

Part 1 of 4

You remember when your mother taught you as a child to use your table manners and to say “please” and “thank you”. Assuming we actually used our manners, that personal etiquette kept us in good stead as a kid. But now you are grown up and are running a business. Are you still using the etiquette that you learned as a child? Is there actually such a thing as business etiquette and does it make a difference in your business?

For the next 4 posts, we will be reprinting parts of an interview with Syndi Seid, a leading authority on international etiquette and protocol and founder of Advanced Etiquette. Ms. Seid was interviewed by LuxeSF, the premiere organization focused on building relationships among like-minded luxury business professionals. In this interview, we learn how that in a day and age when business civility and good manners are on the decline, smart companies are reconfiguring their operating cultures in recognition of the notion that business courtesy delivers ROI in more ways than one.

LuxeSF: How are you defining business etiquette? 

Syndi: Thanks to also being a graduate of the Emily Post Institute, I learned a great definition of etiquette. Emily Post (the first American etiquette author) states: Etiquette is the fuel that powers relationships. In my way of saying it, business etiquette is the fastest route to a successful business and personal relationship.

Business etiquette is the vehicle by which people build relationships to gain more customers, clients and business---in the best possible manner. Business etiquette helps people know what to do and what's expected of them in various situations.

LuxeSF: Are you finding business etiquette is getting better or worse today?

Syndi: There was a recent Associated Press survey that asked..."Do you think Americans are ruder today than 20 years ago?" A resounding 68% said, "Absolutely." Yet, you could argue that in each past generation people would properly respond in the same fashion. Overall, the world has simply allowed and tolerated this downhill trend for far too long. I am pleased to say, that in recent years, there is a small but growing return to civility.

LuxeSF: Why do you think that rudeness factor is increasing?

Syndi: The rudeness factor has increased over the years for many reasons. At the core, resulting from the values dominance of the baby boomer generation is the lack of home education and discipline. Kids today are simply not being taught how to be courteous, polite, respectful, honest, and ethical. Parents allow and often contribute to rude behavior toward others, which then spills over into the workplace and into society.

Syndi Seid is the etiquette expert of choice for the world’s leading organizations and media properties seeking comprehensive training on social etiquette and international business protocol.

As founder of Advanced Etiquette Worldwide, Syndi helps senior executives, business professionals, and main-line employees overcome their fears and insecurities to find poise, confidence, and authority in any social situation, anywhere in the world. To learn more about Syndi Seid visit her site at http://www.advancedetiquette.com/about.html

Please stay tuned to our next post where we continue on with the interview with Ms. Syndi Seid, founder of Advanced Etiquette as she continues to discuss the reason why business etiquette is so important for any business in this time and age.  To view more information on the Luxury Marketing Council-San Francisco, see http://www.luxesf.com.

 What are your thoughts on business etiquette?