Corporate Class Inc.

Picture a weather-perfect long weekend marking the unofficial start of summer and you’d have Toronto’s Victoria Day holiday.  My husband and I decided to seize the moment and take advantage of the idyllic conditions with a long walk — far from the pervasive concrete of our urban neighbourhood.

We headed for our local public transit station where we encountered unexpected track and switch work. The place was hopping and as we waited for our rerouted subway train, we fell into conversation with a transit operator. We talked about the drivers, women and men, who work for the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and their job challenges — one being the life altering, traumatizing experience tunnel operators face when a “jumper” leaps in front of a moving train.

As tragic as this is, another challenge drivers face is personal assault and it’s on the rise. Rude passengers all too frequently display discourteous, anti-social behaviour.

Coincidentally, the next morning just as I was leaving for work, I heard on the news that a TTC bus driver was attacked with fireworks after Victoria Day celebrations. According to reports, a man approached the open door of a bus and threw a Roman candle at the driver.  A senseless act of meanness.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived at work, started opening emails and the first thing that jumped off my screen was the subject line from the New York Times: When Passengers Spit, Bus Drivers Take Months Off

In the article, the journalist considers if passenger behaviour is the result of frustration with the system or reflects a general decline in urban civility. I guess after repeatedly hearing about transit drivers as targets, I tend to side with the “decline in urban civility” theory. Sad but true. That said, I remembered The Baltimore Workplace Civility Study: 

“As organizations have flattened and gone ‘casual/informal,’ there are fewer norms as to what constitutes proper business behavior. Research has shown that most acts of workplace violence originate with uncivil behavior. Moreover, an uncivil work environment can have an economic impact on an organization. Employees encountering workplace incivility have reported less commitment to their company, lost productivity, and some have left their jobs.”

The study makes a strong case that incivility in the workplace is very costly.
No wonder so many job postings typically read: Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills required. I encourage you download this report and share it with your co-workers.   Download the study.

Posted on May 28th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Business Etiquette, Communication, Social Etiquette, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »

Corporate branding has many forms; so naturally, I’m always on the look out for opportunities to enhance a client’s image. My areas of expertise are a very specific series of branding touchpoints —customer service, employee training, and employee image — but sometimes I see an opportunity to jump into other arenas.

A case in point is customized corporate apparel, or so-called logo wear. Corporate golf tournaments, for example, may include polo shirts with the company’s logo, as part of the day’s package. But there’s another category of T-shirts — a far cry from Clubhouse-appropriate attire — and that’s the Promotional T-shirt. Known in the trade as “blanks,” these wholesale blank t-shirts  provide an ideal canvas for presenting company logos, slogans or messages in an informal way.

Jody Steinhauer of The Bargains Group Ltd is an expert when it comes to promo T-shirts. Her firm sells literally thousands to companies in search of high quality, pristine white T’s with a full size range and I might add, a magic price of $2.00 each, before printing.   Custom T-shirts Canada

Conventions, picnics, product launches and fund-raisers, all these events are perfect for what Jody describes as her “walking billboards” and to ensure company employees stand out in a crowd. As Founding President of The Bargains Group and CBO (Chief Bargain Officer), Jody is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to printing her product. The Bargains Group will arrange for eco-friendly, water based printing at one of Canada’s largest print facilities.

The Bargains Group stocks a massive range of apparel from the $2.00 T-shirt blanks to ubiquitous golf shirts, team wear and athletic wear, all at discounted prices. Then there are the seemingly endless other categories: canvas totes, duffel bags, sport bags, water bottles, corporate gifts  — and many products can be customized.    Personalized promotional products

Jody is an interesting anomaly in the realm of discount wholesaling. For starters, she’s a fashion graduate with a keen sense of style and a high taste level. She started her business on a shoestring — with only a phone, fax machine and $1,000 — at her dining room table HQ. From these humble beginnings, Jody has grown her business dramatically and in 2001 she was selected from over 1,200 nominees in the Report On Business nationwide search for the Top 40 Under 40 Award. The same year, she received the Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award, in the Innovation Category.

Jody is adept at balancing her high-powered career with her marriage, children and family but there’s another chapter in this remarkable woman’s life that deserves recognition — her commitment to community and focus on “giving back.” Jody has received numerous awards for her humanitarian achievements and her innovative approach to social concerns. She is the driving force behind two very special charities, Project Water and Project Winter Survival.

In the ten years since Jody originated Project Water, her team of volunteers has distributed over 1 million bottles of water to homeless people over the course of Toronto’s extremely hot summers. Project Winter Survival offers essential items including scarves, hats and even sleeping bags to people living on the street.

Learn more about Jody’s charitable missions:
http://projectwater.ca/
http://projectwintersurvival.org/

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Posted on April 13th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Dress, shopping | No Comments »

Every year, I look forward to the Oscars. Lights, cameras and evening wear — it’s the original red carpet event and birthplace of Joan River’s famous quip-question. “Who are you wearing?” has become part of the lexicon of celebrity interviews, thanks to her and daughter Melissa.

Of course, the whole point of the evening is the award ceremony itself, but the red carpet parade helps to build the excitement and I was right there, covering the red carpet from my living room. (Read my Oscar night tweets here.)

There were no major faux pas. Well, maybe a couple — Charlize Theron, for starters. John Galliano of Dior created the lilac bustier gown especially for her. But what were those fabric spirals over each breast? And speaking of fabric, the asymmetrical ruffles on JLo’s gown reminded me of a Christmas tree skirt. And surely Elizabeth Banks could have ordered her beautiful dress in a more becoming colour?

Although this doesn’t actually fall into my official faux pas category, posture was very much on my mind and simply because it was sadly missing in action. All those strapless gowns demand wonderful posture — what our grandmothers called “bearing and carriage.” Time to hit the gym, girls, and start strengthening those trapezius muscles or Hollywood will be overloaded with dowager humps!

Most men looked amazing with lots of new and interesting takes on “black ties” and numerous pocket squares.  Full marks to Jeff Bridges for his appearance, his much-deserved award and let’s not forget his marriage of 33 years. Wow!  What a dramatic transformation from his role in Crazy Heart. Alec Baldwin, on the other hand, was about an inch short on the shirt scene — no cuffs in sight. Shirts were sometimes out of sync in the collar department — too bitty or too big. But enough nitpicking.

It was a grand event, truly Hollywood-worthy. Yes, I missed what used to be called a “Cher Moment” — a really dramatic, over-the-top extravagant costume and dramatic entrance. And yet, Sandy Powell in accepting her award for, coincidentally, Costume Design —The Young Victorians — brought a new, modern sensibility to the stage. Her choice of gown was simply exquisite and the fabric ultra-luxurious. And finally, “sensational” best describes Penelope Cruz in a draped Bordeaux satin gown by Donna Karan.

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How Is Your Personal and Professional Image?

Are you wondering why your closet is filled with clothes that don’t make you look and feel as fabulous as you are?  Tired of spending loads of time and tons of money trying to get the look you want?  Are you confused about what suits YOU best, how to manage trends, dress age appropriate?

What if I told you that you that you will never have that problem again?

Join me for my new Image Enhancement Course for the Professional Woman – a 4-part course where I will teach you how to create your own look of success!  It all starts on Monday April 5, 2010.

Details and Registration!

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Posted on March 10th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Celebrities, Dress, Fashion, Menswear, Womenswear | 2 Comments »

Seasonal cues about queuing —waiting in line for a lift

Every winter right about now, I start to think about our annual March ski trip to the Canadian Rockies. This year, with Vancouver’s Olympics only a heartbeat away, thoughts of “schussing” came a little earlier.

Although I now consider myself a true Torontonian, sadly, the ski locations close to home are less than ideal. Typically, the queue for a chairlift means a minimum 20-minute wait on weekends. And whoosh, the run is so short you’re back in line two minutes later.

But over the years, I’ve realized that skiers everywhere, when forced to move at a snail’s pace as they wait in lift lines, become cold and cranky folks. Sometimes, these skiers rise to the occasion with truly nice behaviour and other times they disappoint; simply put, they’re not so nice. So with skiing on my mind, here’s a shortlist of suggestions to help keep the queue moving, minimize the impatience factor and keep everyone safe. Remember ski instructors with one or more students have priority and always move to the front of the line.

Queue do’s:

• Pick up the pole — or glove dropped by someone standing in line beside you.
• Offer to help — the parent right in front of you who’s struggling with two kiddies.
• Say hello — acknowledge the single joining you and your group for the ride up.
• Smile — when another skier apologizes for inadvertently knocking your skis.
• Step aside — to let friends ride together BEFORE you reach the loading area.

Queue don’ts:

• No butting in —never cut the line, doesn’t matter how young or old you are.
• Keep the line moving — avoid pile-ups and climb aboard, even when your friend didn’t make the same chair.
• No smoking! Please don’t lineup and light up.
• Swearing and bad language — strictly verboten.
• Keep your skis on snow — don’t step on the tails of your neighbour’s skis.

Ski instructors spend all day “on snow” — or on lifts. I recently caught up with a ski instructor for a chair-side chat and some tips to ensure a safe ride:

• Line bashing or line cutting is an accident waiting to happen. Be patient.
• Respect the lift operator and always do what he asks. Remember, he’s the expert.
• When loading, always hold your poles vertically with the inside hand. At most resorts, regulations prohibit riding with straps on.
• When loading on the outside of a 4 or 6-pack, keep your eyes away from your seatmate — and turned to the outside bar so you’re ready to grab it.

And finally, as the chair starts to climb, keep these rules in mind —
Rule #1:  Remain still. Tapping your feet together to remove snow could result in a dropped ski.
Rule #2:  Keep your gloves on! It’s a long way back down the mountain with one glove. Or none.
And finally, relax; enjoy the view.

When my husband and I are at Lake Louise, the gondolas and numerous chairs keep the lines moving but when we ski the Laurentians or Camp Fortune near Ottawa, the wait is longer and I keep myself entertained with the passing fashion show. Remember that what works for kids, may be out of place on adults — funky hats come to mind. And please, no jeans on the slopes.

Here’s an article on ski fashion I really enjoyed:

Personally I always wear a helmet and underneath, a lightweight toque —when the weather’s cold. Not great for my hair, so I always have a backup cap for lunch and après-ski. Yes, that’s me at Lake Louise, Alberta.

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How Is Your Personal and Professional Image?
Is your style congruent with your brand? Are you confused about what suits YOU best, how to manage trends, dress age appropriate?

Join me for my new Image Enhancement Course for the Professional Woman – a 4-part course where I will teach you how to create your own look of success!  It all starts on Monday Feb. 1 and continues every Monday until Feb. 22.

Details and Registration!

Subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter

Posted on January 29th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Diane's Reflections, Fashion | No Comments »

Let me begin this final blog in our series about Liz by restating my constant refrain — my profession, as an Image Consultant, is both my privilege and my passion. It’s wonderfully gratifying to watch a client shift from self-consciousness to self-confidence.

As Liz candidly shared her Personal Journey, we watched her evolve from the strained stance of the Before image to her effortless sense of poise in the After picture. She embarked on her journey as an attractive, clever young woman but emerged transformed by self-assurance; I also want to point out the wonderful gift of self-esteem bestowed on Liz as she discovered her own style. When you present yourself well dressed, well accessorized, well groomed, it’s pleasing to the eye, displays harmony, demonstrates respect for others — and causes people to be more receptive. 

Today, we enthusiastically embrace professional help on a vast range of subjects. With this series I wanted to make the point that to look our best, we can all use some help. We all have a unique look and physical assets. What we do with what we have often conceals the real beauty; our liabilities govern, not our assets.

During the past few years, we’ve been inundated with extreme, some would say excessive makeovers and in the parlance of the reality shows, reveal after reveal. We’ve watched as medical wizards reconfigured every part of a woman’s anatomy and the equally bizarre effects of media doctors retouching a young model’s torso.

Here, in this series — the reality show called life — what you see is what you get. No retouching — no slimming nor trimming, no eye brightening nor teeth whitening, no fine-tuning — simply put, no photoshopping. Just pure Liz!

Liz has some final thoughts:
“I told Diane, at the end of our final session, that I feel like an entirely different person, more confident  — and it shows.  My look has been transformed dramatically and now I look like a young professional. Throughout the process, I’ve received compliments from my friends and coworkers and both my manager and director commented on my new image.  My director feels very strongly about the importance of image and presentation. His positive comments confirm that I’ve achieved my goal to project a capable and confident image. I’m fortunate that I met Diane and had the opportunity to go through her Image Enhancement Programme at this early stage in my career.  It will undoubtedly have a profound effect on my career development.  I highly recommend this programme. Thank you so much Diane!”

Stay tuned!   (Note that you can now have our blog posts delivered to your Inbox by clicking on the Subscribe link on the right side of this page.)

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How Is Your Personal and Professional Image? 
Is your style congruent with your brand? Are you confused about what suits YOU best, how to manage trends, dress age appropriate?

Join me for my FREE, 55 minute pre-training class:  Style for Women Virtual 4-part course where I will share tips on how to create your own look of success!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 3:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Pacific

Register Now!

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Posted on December 21st, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Body Image, Dress, Fashion, Hair, Image, Image Consultation, Makeup | 2 Comments »