Business & Professional Etiquette

  Internationally speaking, it pays to think globally and act locally. When traveling abroad, it’s important to learn about the people and culture you are doing business with, so as not to be misunderstood or appear rude. Here are some tips for businesspeople and other visitors traveling in the UK: UK Facts The United Kingdom…

  Japan was closed to the West for many years before the middle of the nineteenth century, and it remains a uniquely individual culture. Travelers for both business and pleasure should learn a few points of protocol before visiting Japan, as this will add greatly to the success of a trip. Here are some important…

Do You Talk or Text? Like many of the X generation, my sister and I shared three-course dinners with our parents nightly, and during that meal, we talked. My parents asked us questions such as: How was your day? Was your science test hard? How’s your friend Katina? These days, however, much communicating is nonverbal:…

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Me too! When someone pays me a compliment, it’s always so unexpected that it puts a bounce in my step. And although I am no Dr. Drew, I know that when we’re nice to others, they’re usually nice back. When we…

  Because they are hands-free, speaker phones allow more than two people to take part in a call at the same time, even though this can result in a “tunnel effect”—a kind of echo that distorts the sound of the speakers’ voices. Speakerphones in offices, which can be activated by the push of a button,…

  Does anyone use the telephone anymore? Apparently not, if you’re between the age of 15 and 29. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve tried to leave a message for my 17-year-old niece, only to find her voice mailbox full. When I ask her about it, she says she never checks messages….

  With no disrespect to Steve Jobs, we all need a break from our electronic toys from time to time. Last week, my husband forgot his BlackBerry while on a business trip and did not miss it except for e-mails. It was like the old days: he would just call me from his hotel-room phone….

A handsome business card, properly presented, always makes a good impression. A business card is an extension and expression of you. It should be given in such a way as to make the recipient remember and want to contact you. You should know when to present a card, when to take the initiative, and how…

  When conducting business in China, there are many protocols to be followed. Jenny Li, author of Passport China, writes that success in international business is about people, traditions, and relationships. Cultural Savvy president Joyce Miller adds, “Throughout much of Chinese history, the fundamental glue that has held the society together is the concept of…