The etiquette system in Japan is perhaps one of the world’s elaborate. It involves every aspect of one’s life, with its strict codes of behavior governing daily etiquette and manners. Although the Japanese mostly adhere to these codes, it is not expected that people visiting Japan be familiar with them and would not be reprimanded. However, making an effort to be polite and to show at least some understanding of local customs can make life in Japan a bit easier.

Hierarchy and social standings – Japanese etiquette is based on a social ranking. For example, “me-ue-no-hito” (or “person whose eye is above”) are those of higher social standing such as a top ranking corporate executive, government official, or teacher. Meanwhile, “me-shita-no-hito” (or “person whose eye is below”) are those of lower social standing relative to the other person such as a corporate staffer, a government employee, or a student. Older people have higher social standing than younger people, and that the emperor and his royal family are considered “me-ue-no-hito” by all. This hierarchy is evident in speaking, such as the polite speech (keigo), regular speech, and casual speech, as well as male speech and female speech.

The “Giri” – The “giri” refers to one’s innate sense of duty, obligation, morality and the absolute need to return a favor. Everyone in Japan is bound by the giri, like a person’s bond towards his parents or towards his teachers and benefactors. It is also expressed by meeting one’s obligations and responsibilities as best as possible. Meeting the demands of giri is the same as defending one’s personal honor even under the most adverse circumstances, which includes taking suicide (for some Japanese).

Bowing – The practice of bowing is basic to Japanese etiquette. It is the way Japanese people greet each other, say farewell, express thanks, and even apologize. The Japanese can be particularly conscious of his or her personal space, which is why bowing establishes a comfortable and respectful distance between two people. Although modern Japanese have become used to the Western “handshake” as a form of greeting towards foreigners, they are very much appreciative when a westerner shows respect by bowing when meeting. The degree of bowing is determined by social status, bow deeper towards a person of higher authority. Typically, a bow is done at about 15 degrees of bending your body towards the front; the longer the bow is held the more feeling it evokes. When bowing as an apology, it must be as low as 90 degrees.

On the street – It is very common to see packs of tissues being given out on the street for free. Rule of thumb is that you should take one, as using a handkerchief for blowing one’s nose is a definite no-no. You may also notice some people wearing face masks while walking, especially during spring. Do not worry about an unannounced epidemic. It is just that they are protecting themselves against pollen inhalation. Meanwhile, eating on the street is considered impolite, even if you see people doing it these days. Spitting and urinating in public (mainly by middle-aged or drunk men) may seem obnoxious, but these do not necessarily raise eyebrows in Japan.

Basic table manners – A typical Japanese meal involves many different foods and sauces presented in little dishes. It is considered polite to pick up these small dishes and bring them close to your mouth, especially when eating soup and rice. The soup bowl (usually on you right side) is picked up and the broth is directly sipped from the bowl. Chopsticks are used to pick-up tofu, seaweed, vegetables, and other food items in the soup. The rice bowl (usually on your left side) is also picked up and brought near the mouth, using the closed chopsticks as a shovel. When dipping sauces are used, chopsticks are used to pick up the food, dip it into the sauce, and then you place it on the rice before eating it.

Basic restaurant manners – Upon entering a Japanese restaurant, bars, or inns, guests are given a wet face or hand towel called “oshibori,” which is used to freshen-up the face and hands before eating. After using, it is taken away by the hostess. There are no napkins at restaurants in Japan; that is why most Japanese carry handkerchiefs that they use during meals and place it on their laps. If you are having difficulty with using chopsticks, asking for a knife and fork is all right (especially if the restaurant serves Western food). Toothpicks are used in restaurants after eating, and it is all right to pick one’s teeth after a meal as long as it is done discreetly.

Slurping – Slurping is a double-edge sword. It is considered impolite, but if you don’t do it the chef would be insulted. Consider slurping when eating “ramen” (noodle soup), “donburi” (big bowls of rice topped with meat or vegetables), and on “miso” soup.

Saying grace – Before eating, it is important to say “itadakimasu,” which literally means “I shall partake” and serves as a kind of pre-meal grace. You could practice it by quickly saying “eat a duck he must.” Once the dinner is over, remember to say “gochisosama deshita” to show your appreciation for the meal.

Drinking – The Japanese may be quiet and reserved, but not when they are drunk. Drinking with fellow students or coworkers is almost a ritual in Japan, and considered the best way to break the ice as well as solidify relationships. However, the Japanese can get pretty rowdy when drunk, but all is forgiven and forgotten the next day. It is polite to pour other people’s drinks and then hold your own glass while your host or friend fills it. Upon toasting, remember to shout “Kampai,” which literally means “dry glass.” If you are invited out, it is common for your host to pay the bill.

Gift giving – There are many considerations in buying a gift for a Japanese person. In Japan, gift giving etiquette specifies when, to whom, under what circumstances, and what type of gift is appropriate to give. Also you should also take note how much the gift costs and how the gift should be wrapped. Traditionally, the Japanese do not celebrate birthdays or Christmas. Instead, give gifts to people you feel indebted to (like a business owner towards his customers, or a patient towards his doctor) during June’s Obon Festival (in which the gifts are called “oseibo”) and in December before the year ends (in which the gifts are called “ochugen”), not to mention during special occasions like weddings, gradutations among others. When presenting or receiving gifts, it is polite to hold the gift with two hands and bow respectfully at the exchange.

The “Omiage” – Another highly ritualized practice of gift giving is called the “omiage.” This is done by thanking someone for an invitation, paying someone a visit, and before and after taking a long trip. For instance, when visiting a friend or acquaintance in Japan, you should bring food items like a baked cake, rice crackers, or a beautifully-wrapped fresh fruit. Meanwhile, when visiting the office of a client, potential business associate, or government official, the omiage might be in a form of tea cups or laquerware and would be more expensive.

Visiting someone’s home – If you have been invited to someone’s house, remember to bring the omiage. Upon visiting, say to the house owner “Tsumaranai mono desu ga,” which is similar to “This is just a little something for you.” Before entering, take off your shoes by the “genkan” or hallway and put on the slippers provided by the host. If you have to use the toilet, you would have to change slippers again. Upon leaving, the host would usually say “Kondo asobi ni kite kudasai” or “Please come around my place sometime,” but this is only said just out of politeness. Visiting the house unannounced could be embarrassing to both of you.

Business cards – In business meetings, it is customary to exchange “meishi” or business cards but in Japan there is a certain manner of giving and receiving it. Business cards are given and received using both hands and each person bows at the exchange. Take note to present your business card written-side up and facing the person receiving it so that he doesn’t have to turn the card around and read it. After receiving a business card, you should read (or look as though you are reading) the card and make comments about the company or the address (it is some sort of “breaking the ice”). In keeping the card, it should be handled with respect and place in a special “business card holder” and not in your pocket or purse. When meeting new people in a conference or dinner setting, you should place your business cards in front of them on the table so that they can easily refer you by name.

Bathing – Communal bathing in Japan dates back for centuries and visiting one of its thousands of “onsen” (hot springs) or “sento” (public bath houses) can be a highlight of your trip. Like in any bathroom, you should wash yourself outside the bath before getting into the hot water and soak. You would notice that people usually scrub each other’s backs. Remember to bring your own toiletries and put your shoes and clothes in designated lockers. Bath houses are always separated by sex, but these days there are a few mixed bathing places that you could try.

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“Americans and Canadians may share the same continent, but they have differences (as well as similarities) in behavior and etiquette. Here we take a look at the how to deal business in Canada.

They value individualism – Just like any English-speaking citizen, including American, Canadians value individualism highly. For them, success is measured by personal achievement.

They are open about everything except themselves – Canadians are open to discussions about anything. However, they tend to hold their personal privacy off limits to all except for relatives and close friends.

Ethnocentrism is high – A lot of Canadians think highly of their own culture, and every other culture-including that of Americans-are judged according to their perspective. This belief of considering their owns culture as superior to other cultures reflects best in the French province of Quebec.

Plan for a very cold climate – Stuff your travel bags with a lot of fall and winter clothing especially during wintertime when the country is at its coldest. Remember, even its summers are cold.

Dress conservatively – Men should wear a dark conservative business suit with tie, especially if you are dealing business in an urban setting. Your business wardrobe should be based on classic likes such as suits with a traditional lapel width, in colors of either navy, gray, or black, and shirts in white and light blue. Meanwhile, women should wear a conservative business suit or dress, using classic lines and colors in mind. Avoid wearing anything “”trendy”" on a business meeting. If you are dealing business in a rural area, be a little less formal yet sticking to the conservative side.

Dress casually outside the boardroom – If you are not working, or still dealing business during an outdoor activity like playing golf, casual wear works best. The weather and activity will dictate what you would be wearing.

Be careful when doing the “”V”" sign – A “”V for Victory”" hand signal is considered an insult in Canada if your palm is facing yourself. Do this sign with your palm facing away.

Dates are written differently – Americans are used to writing dates in a “”month-day-year”" format, while Canadians write their dates in a “”day-month-year”" manner. For instance, today is 25 August 2007 (spoken as either “”twenty-five August”" or “”twenty-fifth of August”").

Do not eat while walking in public – As much as some of us may be used to the concept of “”street food,”" Canadians prefer taking their snacks in a cafe or a restaurant.

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“Before we even begin to discuss some of the general business practices in the United States, there are two key points in American culture that we need to understand. Individualism and egalitarianism are two important elements in American culture that have significant effects on their business etiquettes.

According to the research and studies of Geert Hofstede, a Professor of International Management at the University of Limburg at Maastricht, the Netherlands and a notable expert on business culture having done comprehensive studies on values in the workplace, the United States has a high level of individualism in its society.

This is the reason behind Americans show more self-reliant behaviors and, aside from themselves and close family members, tend to form loose bonds with other people. American culture emphasizes and practically awards those who take the initiative and those whose goals are towards personal achievements. Status and age doesn’t matter much and what is looked at are one’s personal achievements.

Meanwhile, egalitarianism or the concept of equality is important as well. Americans believe that they should be provided with equal rights, equal social obligations, and equal opportunities. Equality, however, is still based on individual achievements. Americans feel and believe that working hard and doing their best deserve success and better financial gains.

This concept of equality influences how Americans treat people that are richer, older, and authority figure. Americans generally don’t show much respect to people who are financially and/or socially higher in status. Professional titles are very seldom used and people prefer calling each other by their first names.

You’ll find that American business culture is very task centered. Americans are direct and will say “”no”" if they want to. It’s normal for them to criticize work, performance, or persons in public so don’t feel embarrassed if you find yourself in the receiving end.

Furthermore, punctuality is considered sacred in American business culture. People are expected to attend meetings and appointments on time and deadlines are expected to be met on the dot. Failure to do so is often frowned upon and is seen as highly disrespectful. Being punctual and meeting deadlines are further emphasized due to the “”time is money”" philosophy which is practiced by the general business community.

Americans are willing to work long hours and overtime due to their work ethic. Office/business hierarchy is also being practiced with stress being given on company organizational structure. However, because of individualism in American society and business culture, the working environment is highly competitive with emphasis on personal competence, professionalism, and individual accountability.

With regards to some business etiquettes, firm handshakes signal the start and end of business meetings. Show of sincerity and interest is shown by maintaining direct eye contact during the initial greeting and during important parts of a conversation. Exchanging business cards is viewed as an ordinary or casual activity and follows no formal rules.

When you do business in the US, it is important that one pays attention to guidelines and rules dictated by business policies, procedures, and laws. Be careful when giving gifts, since the practice is often discouraged by many companies since the gesture can easily by misinterpreted as a bribe.

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There is a lot of information pertaining to discussion of ethics around us, and ethics are a part and parcel of our day to day life.

While it may be a truism to say that most of us would like to either be independently wealthy, work for ourselves or building our own brand of business, the reality of the situation is that few of us, statistically speaking, will ever achieve that dream.

This leaves us with the necessity of playing the office politics game, getting on the good side of management, and trying not to rock the boat too much. Of course, there may come a time when you are presented with an ethical dilemma when it comes to your relationship with your boss. There may come a time when your boss asks you to do something that is slightly off the path, ethically and morally speaking. And at that time, you will have to make a choice: go with the flow and do as they say, breaking your own code of ethics in the process, or go against the grain, stand up for yourself and your beliefs, and risk losing favor with management, or even risk losing your job.

Of course, much of the decision making power will have to do with the specific situation involved. If you boss asks you to do something clearly illegal, which could cost you much more than your job, the choice will be a lot easier than something on a smaller, subtler scale. Say for instance your boss wants you to begin a surveillance program, keeping track of everyone¡¯s internet activity in the office. You may feel this is an invasion of privacy, even if you are not breaking any laws. Your friends and coworkers in the office would lose respect for you if they found out about your surveillance, and it may even be a case where if you won¡¯t do it, someone else will. This is where you will have to decide where and what you want to stand for. If you agree to the task, you might be breaking your personal code of ethics; if you deny it, you may risk losing your job or, more likely, be passed over for that next promotion.

Situations like the one described above are never easy. There are many considerations to take under advisement, and it would behoove anyone in such a situation to consult with their family and the people they trust for counsel before proceeding. In the end, of course, you must make the decision that feels right to you. If you feel, for instance, like perusing the internet activity of that girl in accounting is a light transgression, it may be easy to decide to go with the flow in this instance. On the other hand, if you feel strongly that management has no right to invade their
employees privacy in this way, it may be a situation where it is worth the penalty to stand up for your beliefs.

With many ethical considerations, there are no clear cut answers. There is only your personal set of beliefs, staged against another¡¯s. These situations can be the most difficult to conquer, as they may come down to nothing more than personal disagreements. Neither of you may have an objective stance of right or wrong, but both of you may feel just as strongly about your opinion.

With the ending of this article on discussion of Ethics, how much do you stand to gain with this article? It will fall to you to make the decision you can live with.

Diana Lim is an online marketer and a believer in self improvement could help individuals to alter their world and achieve success, visit this site for more information.

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Tags: article, business, code, ethics, society

If you posed this question to a fourth grader, what do you suppose their answer would be? “If a person were invited to speak to your class today and you saw them walking down the hall, how would you know that they are ‘somebody!’?” Better still, if you asked that same question to a high school student or to someone you work with, what do you think his or her response would be?

This question, seemingly so simple, deals with our notion of self and self-worth. From an early age most seem to have an innate desire to be valued, to have self-worth, which is often measured by value others place on us. From an early age most people are taught that their value is defined by how they look, what they have, how they behave. This is reinforced by television, radio, and other external sources. Children learn these lessons early, often from their parents. Many studies have shown that children who are praised and taught their internal value (or spiritual value) have higher self-esteem than those children who are told they will never amount to anything or are taught that value is defined by materialism. It’s obvious to most rational adults that we can create a direct connection to what we teach and value. What we teach and value can, however, be double-edged swords.

Let’s go back to our original question and see what the children said. In several classes the question above was posed and the top answers were: (1) you would know they were “somebody” by the car they drove; (2) you would know they were “somebody” by the clothes they wore; (3) you would know they were “somebody” by the shoes on their feet and (4) lastly by their watch. Note that all of the evidence that a person was “somebody” centered on material trappings. Very seldom did one of the students respond; “you would know ‘somebody’ by how they treated another.”

Unfortunately, the students had, by the fourth grade, been conditioned to determine human value by material possessions. The notion of self and self-value was being established by surroundings, not internal spiritual worth. We found that the older the students got, the more they were connecting value and acceptance with material trappings. This creates a foundation for what appears today to be an ethical conundrum. We see ethic breeches all around, in fact, reported in abundance. People making the wrong choices – suffering negative consequences – and yet, recent studies show that teens would act unethically to get ahead.

The initial responses written in this article were made by fourth graders in North Carolina back in 1996. On this day they were addressed by three people, who by all accounts, were defined as “nobody.” These children were addressed by inmates from Federal Prison. Each inmate shared their personal story in hopes that some impression might be made early to sway the opinion of the child and give support to making positive choices.

“Perhaps, if we can help others see the consequences of the choices we made, they won’t make the same mistakes,” stated one inmate named Ted. While the inmates called them mistakes, society called them crimes and all were ethic breeches. There was a passion in their hearts to reach out and provide truth about unethical choices.

The messages were powerful and, make no mistake, the children – especially at that age – took it all in. Exposed to a hard dose of reality in the fourth grade, these children today would be in college. One can only hope that the effort to touch these lives early had some influence. It is true that once taught, it is in the brain and at some point the truth they heard that day will be a reminder to them as they make ethical choices everyday. Certainly, as the CEO of Deloitte said, “Supporting education and dialogue about ethical decision-making is an important way we can encourage kids.” He’s right!

On a crisp October day in 1995, Chuck Gallagher took 23 physical steps… opened a door… and began a new experience that was life-changing. This series of articles explores that experience and the success that followed… while involving the reader in ways that could be life-altering for them. Gallagher captures the heart of the audience in an honest way that deals with human emotion. For information on Chuck’s keynotes and workshops go to this site.

The Choices Foundation, is a non-profit organization that has a mission to provide just those services. High school and University students are targeted to hear presentations about ethics and their consequences – either negative or positive.

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Tags: ethical, society, culture, humanist, business

How in the world did I get scammed by a 100% satisfaction or your money back guarantee offer? You’ll probably be a bit surprised, if you haven’t fallen victim to this scam as of yet. Check this out!

I’m attending what I felt was a relatively expensive seminar when the orator goes into his sales pitch to sell another one of his seminars.

“$4,000.00! Is he kidding me?” I thought to myself.

I knew for certain that there was no way anyone could convince me to pay $4,000.00 to go to a seminar knowing what my bank statement looked like during that period.

But guess what? This particular salesman said some magic words:

“If you are not a millionaire in one year using the skills I will teach you at this seminar, you will get 100% of your money back!”

“Whoa! Wait a minute! How can I lose with an offer like that?” I thought.

I thought either one or two things would happen.

1. I would become a millionaire in a year! (Yeah, Baby!)

or

2. I would get 100% of my money back. (Not a bad investment!) I didn’t see anyway there was to lose! “I’ll take it!” I ecstatically thought.

While digging in my purse for a couple of credit cards to pay for this “much too expensive” seminar, I pictured myself enjoying my million dollars. I was overly excited!

I was passionate, very ambitious, an extremely hard worker and had specialized skills. All I needed was that last piece of the puzzle of how to turn my skills and passions into a means of supporting myself. I was ready!

“Teach me how to turn my skills into millions!” I thought.

Well, I soon discovered on my first day at this “make me a millionaire” seminar that my eyes weren’t able to “see” this million dollar picture very clearly. Here’s the Deal:

1. The offer wasn’t made in writing. There was no way to really prove the orator made such an outstanding offer stating these magnificent 100% guaranteed results.
2. When I got to the seminar, he stated a long list of “impossible” tasks that must be completed in order to get a refund.
3. I say “impossible” because he did everything possible to make sure no one would be eligible to request a refund.
4. The seminar did not deliver on its promise. Instead of teaching success skills, we were bombarded with offers to purchase other programs that “promised” to get us to that million dollar mark.
5. I lost $4,000.00 (plus hotel and plane fare) and a lot of time attending what turned out to be a huge lot of infomercials and a scam.

I learned an important and expensive lesson. Here are some “How to Avoid The 100% Guarantee Scam” tips I will share with you:

1. Before falling for the 100% guarantee or your money back offer, get the terms of the offer in writing.
2. Find out exactly what needs to be done to get your money back and how long it will take to get the refund.
3. Find out how the money will be refunded (as a credit for future purchases or your money back.) When we know better, we do better!

Self-Empowerment is the key to never getting scammed again!

YOUR LIFE really can be as beautiful and as bountiful as YOU create it to be! Self Empowerment is the Key!

Karen E. Smith is the author of Energy Diet, a self empowerment eBook. She is also a book reviewer for AnimatedBookReviews, a book review web site featuring reviews of empowerment books that motivate, inspire and educate.

Please visit The Energy Diet Book Web site to learn how you can empower your life here

AND Please visit The Animated Book Reviews web site for some empowering books for
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Tags: business, ethics, code, society, article

Have you ever been asked to do something unethical by one of your prospects or clients? Have you ever been pressured by a supervisor, manager or owner at your business to do something unethical? Have you ever observed unethical behavior by a prospect or client?

In today’s business world, there are daily instances of unethical behavior occurring all around us. What a sad commentary on business and society today. Over the more than 35 years in my own professional career, there have been instances where I have been approached by unethical prospects and clients and was fortunate to have had strong ethical mentors and supervisors, managers & owners that supported my actions to turn away from the unethical requests and to report them to my superiors.

And later in my own business, I have made decisions to forego doing business with unethical prospects clients that meant turning away some very significant assignments. One must always ask – what price do I put on my ethics? How can one justify a compromise of their ethics? It is essential to have some good advice on how to reduce the chance of an improper request from a client or prospect and how to respond when actually approached by an unethical prospect or client. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following advice.

+ Always present and project a professional image that reflects your integrity and your personal and company core values.

+ Respond directly, clearly and confidently by saying “NO” to unethical prospects and clients.

+ Continuously reinforce company and personal core values to everyone in your organization.

+ Continuously reinforce the code of ethics of your company to all employees.

+ Never compromise your ethical standards in response to an unethical request.

+ Remember, it is impossible to “waive” your ethics, in spite of what Enron tried to do.

+ Be proactive and report the unethical behavior, prospect and/or client to your supervisor, manager, business owner or other appropriate people.

+ Use the “lessons learned” from previous experiences of responding to unethical prospects and clients to help reinforce your ethical standards and as a mentoring and training opportunity.

+ Provide positive reinforcement to those who say NO to unethical prospects and clients.

Your strategic thinking business coach encourages you to be stand firm and be firm when it comes time to dealing with unethical requests and unethical prospects and clients.

If you would like to learn more about dealing with unethical prospects and clients and how a strategic thinking business coach can facilitate and guide you in that endeavor, please contact Glenn Ebersole today through his website at http://www.businesscoach4u.com/

or by email at jgecoach@aol.com.

Glenn Ebersole, Jr. is a multi-faceted professional, who is recognized as a visionary, guide and facilitator in the fields of business coaching, marketing, public relations, management, strategic planning and engineering. Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive of two Lancaster, PA based consulting practices: The Renaissance Group, a creative marketing, public relations, strategic planning and business development consulting firm and J. G. Ebersole Associates, an independent professional engineering, marketing, and management consulting firm. He is a Certified Facilitator and serves as a business coach and a strategic planning facilitator and consultant to a diverse list of clients. Glenn is also the author of a monthly newsletter, “Glenn’s Guiding Lines – Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” and has published more than 250 articles on business.

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When reading Trade Journals it becomes quite obvious of the problems with many of the articles. They appear to be news worthy articles, but are simply trying to bend the mind of the reader over to their view of the industry in order to sell them something. Of course for the Trade Journal it works because it is free filler articles and means less cost in paying writers. It also gives the chance that the author of the articles or series of articles may advertise in the Trade Journal in the future.

Here are a few recent examples in the news for inspiration. One company gave away 10,000 tire pressure gauges to help people save gas without having to wait for the election to be over. A well-known paint company released “news” on what paint colors they predict each candidate would choose for the interior walls of the White House based on the color preferences of their clothes, homes and regional backgrounds. And a food manufacturer offered up their own candidate in the form of a potato in a suit and glasses. Silly, yes. Effective, often.

There are several tips that will help you best position your pitch to reporter. Whether a solo-preneur or an office of many, one of the keys to success is taking action to brainstorm creative ways to tie into the political coverage. Will your message be humorous or serious? Will you tie-in to the topic of the debates, the election or the inauguration? Another tip is to watch the news and read magazines. Start to pay attention to what kinds of stories get covered and how the media chooses to cover them. But get going; the media is looking forward to hearing news from your campaign headquarters.

Stacey Johnes – EzineArticles Expert Author.

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Tags: pr, social, group, society, community

During the twenty-three years I spent in management, there were many occasions when I participated in social events with my employees. Likewise, I attended parties where my supervisors were present.

By participating in hundreds of receptions, dinners, celebrations, award ceremonies, fund raising campaign kickoffs and other out of the office happenings, I have learned which communication behaviors work and which ones backfire.

You will agree that, handled wisely, social time with employees can boost morale. Employees welcome chances to get to know the boss as a person, not just a manager. During the frenetic work week, they encounter the boss as the source of discipline, assignments, occasional reprimands and, typically, very little personal chit chat. So it’s refreshing to be around the supervisor when she showcases her humor, asks about your family and hobbies, and gives an unrestrained laugh.

However, both employees and bosses should be aware that the social scene does not erase the workplace lines of authority. Example: Because the boss likes your personality at a party does not mean you will get the next promotion, which depends instead on your professional skills.

Here are seven guidelines that every employer and employee should keep in mind for after-hours mingling:

ONE: Avoid off color humor. The jokes you would tell your golf buddies could jeopardize your professional reputation if you share them with workplace colleagues, no matter how informal the setting. True, they might laugh out of courtesy, or maybe from discomfort. Yet you risk losing their respect. Play safe.
Don’t tell any joke that you wouldn’t tell at an office staff meeting.

TWO: Refrain from touching, other than a handshake greeting, unless you happen to go dancing with the group. Draping an arm around a colleague might prompt an eventual lawsuit, especially when you don’t give that person an expected raise. And the employee who caresses the boss can create an image of
fakery and pandering.

THREE: Drink moderately. Every year, holiday parties, company picnics and similar outings become career graveyards for bosses and employees who want to become “the life of the party.”

Sometimes we assume that two more drinks will help us talk more easily. That’s a mistake. Two more drinks will encourage you to talk more–period. The impaired speaking and unsteady walk that follow those extra cocktails could brand you: “lush,” “a drunk,” “undisciplined,” or something similar.

Along those lines, never mention that drinking is important to you. Stay away from “Nothing like a stiff
drink at the end of the day to help a guy unwind.” Whimsically, we slip into comments like that, such
as “Thought that bartender would never bring our order.” Although you are trying to inject a bit of levity
into the conversation, the quips could backfire, categorizing you as a problem drinker.

FOUR: Make sure you circulate among everyone present, not just the managerial group you feel most comfortable with. The person who talks with his or her clique and avoids everyone else nullifies the inclusive good will the event is intended to foster. Spend time with line employees as well as “the suits.”

FIVE: Avoid shop talk. Demonstrate that you have an interesting, meaningful life away from the corporation. Nobody wants to hear your opinions about a five year plan, a drop in sales or the
employee you had to fire. As an old song advises, “talk happy talk, things that people like to hear.”

Stay well informed about major sporting events, releases of new movies, great places to vacation, new restaurants your friends have recommended, bestselling books and national events. Definitely, party goers want to talk about them, not corporate problems and plans.

SIX: Listen attentively. Good listeners become our favorite people. We move away from motormouths who dominate conversations. Encourage others to talk, with comments like “very interesting,” “tell me more,” and “What happened next?” When Stephen Covey wrote 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he titled chapter five, “Seek first to understand, and then to be understood.” Follow that
advice, and you’ll become the hit of the company’s social outing.

SEVEN: Mind your manners. If the occasion includes a meal, pay special attention to your table etiquette. You want to look like you belong at top-tier banquets. Illustrate that you have acquired polish and grace.

Bill Lampton, Ph.D., helps organizations “Finish in First Place” by strengthening their communication, motivation, sales, and customer service. His speeches, seminars, and communication coaching have benefited numerous clients, including the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Gillette, Duracell, Procter & Gamble, Missouri Bar, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Visit his Web site to sign up for his complimentary monthly E-mail newsletter: here

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Tags: public relations, employee, bos, society, social

No citizen likes to pay lots of taxes and if you’ll recall some of the citizens in the United States before it was formed were quite upset with the king and his taxation. In fact if you’ll recall in Boston Harbor some dressed as Indians threw some tea in the water because they were slightly upset. Ever since this time American citizens through the generations have not trusted tax agencies.

There are many groups out in our society who try to get people to stop paying taxes in order to make a statement about government and taxation. Public relations for taxation agencies is therefore very important to help educate the consumer, customer and citizen of what their money is going for and why they are collecting it. Most people do not trust the Internal Revenue Service and get rather irate by audits.

A good public relations program and community goodwill effort from a taxation agency can alleviate much of the stress and anger from taxpayers. Taxation agencies should be careful to have open communication lines with all major media outlets and promote how they are doing, what they’re doing and why it is so vitally important to our society and civilization.

This of course is not an easy proposition since no one likes to pay taxes and because our taxes keep going up and nothing seems to work right. The taxation agencies need to make sure that the people understand that they are the collection arm and if there is a problem that should be taken up with the fine folks in government and the elected representatives. Please consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: public relations, agency, tax, society, government

Although the homeless situation in the United States of America is under the radar and is only about 500,000 people, which is statistically lower than any other nation in the world, it still drives people crazy. Additionally we do need to do something about the homeless folks in our nation, but unfortunately homeless shelters are something that no one wants in the community.

The NIMBY affect is alive and well when it comes to people who wish to put in a homeless shelter. No one wants homeless people all around their businesses or in their neighborhoods, as it attracts the wrong element and potentially can lead to theft in the area. Homeless shelters need to be very aware of the importance of public relations and community goodwill in their local areas.

Convincing local residents, that a homeless shelter will be going in down the street usually sends a firestorm of frenzy to the local planning commission meeting. However, if the homeless shelters promoters can do a bang up PR job in advance using all the local media and getting local politicians and community leaders to sign on to the project, then much of the outrage can be eliminated before it starts.

We must do something about the homeless situation in the United States of America and homeless shelters are the answer to help those that want to get off the street with an easier path. Please consider this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; at WorldThinkTank. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

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Tags: promotion, public relations, homeless, shelters, society