Etiquette School of Ohio

Non-verbal Communicaton - Your Stance

People form an opinion about you within the first seven seconds of visual contact with you. It is imperative you are always aware of your body language to give a good first impression.

When standing, consider the following guidelines:

1. Stand with a straight back, shoulders back, and head lifted to convey self-confidence. Do not lean on objects to help prop you up.

2. Hands should rest comfortably at your sides. Avoid placing your hands in your pockets. If you feel the need to do something with your hands, clasp them behind your back. Doing so will help your posture and make you appear approachable. Clasping your hands in front rounds your shoulders decreasing the perception of confidence.

3. Do not cross your arms in front. Non-verbally, you are closing the lines of communication.

4. Stand with both feet firmly planted on the floor. Crossing your legs at the ankles makes you appear insecure.

Umbrellas and Professional Dress

I am frequently asked if it is appropriate to carry an umbrella in any color other than black in a professional environment.

Yes, the only situations which would require black umbrellas only would be a black tie event or a funeral.  By all means use a colored or printed umbrella in the business setting.  It is much easier to find your umbrella amongst all the black umbrellas left at the front door.

It is more important to own an umbrella in good condition than to worry about the color.  A ragged umbrella or any ragged accessory will lower your professional image.

Lighting Candles on the Dinner Table

The candles on a dinner table should not be lit before dusk. Candles should not be on the table at all if the entire meal is to be consumed during daylight hours.

The reasoning behind this etiquette rule goes back to the days when there was no electricity in the homes. To light a candle while you had the light provided by nature was considered wasteful and extravagant.

Keep this rule in mind when choosing your holiday centerpiece.

Tucking Your Tie in Your Pants

In the past week, I have seen more ties tucked into pants than I wish to see in a lifetime.

Gentlemen, do not tuck your ties into your pants.  If the tie is long enough to tuck in, there are some other factors that need to be addressed.

1.  Your tie is too long. Shortening a tie is one of the easiest alterations that can be made.  If you need to, have it shortened.

2. You are wearing your pants too high. Your waistband should rest on your waist, not above your stomach and under your pectoral muscles.  I’ve always wondered how one can breath with a belt cinched so tightly around this part of a rib cage?

If you are working with a piece of machinery and fear your tie will get caught, tuck it into your shirt if you must tuck. Please do not forget to “untuck” when the danger at hand subsides.

Serving Soup

There are two different types of soup bowls. Each of these bowls serves a function for the type of soup being served.

1. Cream soup bowl. This bowl is low and somewhat flat with a one inch rim around the circumference. Many chefs also refer to this bowl as a rimmed soup bowl. Only thick creamy soups are served in this type of bowl. The rim helps to catch any drips from the spoon when it is briefly touched against it.

2. Lug soup bowl. Clear broth soups are served in this bowl. It is a small round bowl resembling a cup. This bowl has handles on each side to allow you to pick the bowl up and drink from it.

Both types of soup bowls should be served on a plate so the soiled spoon may be placed on the plate rather than in the bowl or on the table when an individual finishes eating the soup.

Seminars

In addition to the etiquette classes taught at the Etiquette School of Ohio, etiquette training is offered in group seminars for children’s etiquette, business etiquette, and social etiquette. The Etiquette School of Ohio locally serves the Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Toledo areas. Sandy Hyde will also travel throughout the United States to provide the highest level of etiquette coaching to her clients.

Etiquette seminars have been presented to students in colleges, high schools, middle schools, grade schools, and many different youth organizations. Professionals have heard Ms. Hyde speak at their businesses, professional development seminars, training workshops, and professional business club meetings.

Please contact Sandy Hyde at the Etiquette School of Ohio if you are interested in scheduling any of the following seminars for your organization. Customized programs are also available. Please contact Sandy for more information.

(An updated menu of seminar offerings will be posted soon! Please check back.)

Taking Medications in Professional Settings

At some time, everyone needs to take medication during the workday. Perhaps it is for something as minor as a headache or it could be an ongoing health issue such as taking insulin for diabetes. Whatever reason the medication is needed for, maintain a professional image by keeping this information private.

1. If the time you must take the medication is during a meeting, take the medication immediately before or after the meeting.

2. If you do not have flexibility with the time, quietly excuse yourself from the meeting and take the medication in private.

3. Do not broadcast your medicating event to everyone in the office. This is especially important if you have clients or customers in the office.

4. Remember, a professional environment is not all about you and your medical issues.  It’s about the productivity and service of the company.

Passing Food at the Table

Serving platters, bread baskets, and other food items are always passed in a counterclockwise direction or to your right. This will help to alleviate any traffic jams.

Also, by receiving the food with your left hand, your right hand is free to serve the food, giving an accidental spill less of an opportunity to occur.

Etiquette Classes

Serving Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus and beyond, the Etiquette School of Ohio offers classes and consultation to professionals, students, and children. Etiquette classes include training in dining etiquette, business etiquette, business networking, professional dress and grooming, telephone etiquette, social etiquette, wedding etiquette and more.

Children’s Etiquette:

Children will learn much more than just manners in the etiquette classes designed specifically for their age group. They will graduate from the Etiquette School of Ohio having more confidence, poise, and personal presentation skills. Children will handle formal introductions with proper protocol, grace, eye contact, and an impressive handshake. Attending a formal dinner will be done with ease and simple elegance.

Business Etiquette:

Professionals learn or brush up on skills to help them advance in their careers. Many skills offered in the professional business etiquette classes may help to improve a company’s bottom line. Employees learn skills to build lasting business relationships.

Job Search:

Whether you are a recent college graduate or a seasoned professional, the Etiquette School of Ohio teaches interviewing skills to help you get an edge over other job candidates. Training includes classes in professional wardrobe selection, grooming, interviewing, presentation skills, telephone etiquette, non-verbal communication, selection of stationery and thank you notes.

Dining Etiquette - Sharing Food at the Table

It is impolite to eat food from another diner’s plate.  If you would like to sample or share food from another diner’s plate, hand your fork to the other person who should place the food on the fork and hand it back to you,  place the food on the edge of your plate, or place it on your bread plate.  Do not reach over and take the food off the other person’s plate.  Worst yet, do not allow the other person to lean over and mouth feed you.

Many times it is decided that a meal will be shared before ordering.  If this is the case, inform your server you will be sharing your meal.  The server should then bring it to the table on two individual plates.