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 [...]
Posted on May 28th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Accessories, Business Etiquette, Communication, Social Etiquette, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »
My journey as a public speaker may soon take to the high seas — literally and figuratively. Rarely does a week pass that I’m not engaged to speak. Venues vary in size and scope but probably my largest audience was 19,000 plus, at the Ottawa Senators’ home game when I introduced Sandrine’s Gift of Life [...]
Posted on March 24th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Diane's Reflections, Special Events, Workplace Etiquette | 3 Comments »
Canadian designer creates the ultimate business underpinning
Cleavage, or décolleté, has its place. Bikinis, bathing suits, strapless gowns and party dresses are all cleavage-compatible. And with the Academy Award nominees just announced, thoughts turn to the annual revealing review of starlets and celebrities as they stroll the red carpet.
That said — cleavage has absolutely no business [...]
Posted on February 5th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Dress, Fashion, Womenswear | 2 Comments »
What a night for the Obamas!
There’s no denying that I’ve been openly critical of some of Michelle Obama’s wardrobe choices — both before and after she became First Lady. But Tuesday evening, I was in awe. It was the first White House State Dinner since President Obama took office and Michelle definitely rose to the [...]
Posted on November 27th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Celebrities, Dining Etiquette, Dress, Fashion, Social Etiquette, Special Events | 2 Comments »
Public speaking is fundamental to my profession. Every week, without fail, I’m in front of an audience. Size and location vary — from a dozen people in a corporate boardroom to several hundred at a convention centre. Regardless of the size or scope or topic, I generally make sure there’s time provided for questions from [...]
Posted on October 2nd, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Conferences | 2 Comments »
Everyone’s an expert on etiquette. Especially when it comes to introductions. Yet many so-called published experts don’t get it right. They fail to explain the rules of introduction — how to introduce your boss, your colleagues, even your grandmother— succinctly and correctly.
Often, these experts’ published guides devote pages and pages to introductions — how to [...]
Posted on September 8th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Social Etiquette | 1 Comment »
As Consumers, Our Expectations Are Extremely High
Do you offer the quality of service you gauge others by? Do you demand the same high standards of yourself — that you expect from other business professionals — when you’re working with clients?
As an image and etiquette consultant, I am very conscious of how I present myself — [...]
Posted on September 2nd, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Image, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »
As a Certified Image and Etiquette consultant, for over 20 years I’ve watched the definition of etiquette evolve and expand, especially in the world of business.
Thirty years ago, anyone using the word etiquette in everyday speech might have been laughed out of town. Let’s face it; etiquette had a bad rap. It was synonymous with [...]
Posted on August 28th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Diane's Reflections, Dining Etiquette, Social Etiquette | 2 Comments »