| President's Message |  | 
I am putting the finishing touches on my upcoming book, The Essentials of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat and Tweet Your Way to Success (McGraw-Hill, August 2013). It's my 10th book over the last 18 years. Every book added new topics as advances in technology and the increase of women in the workplace changed the way we communicated in the business world.
Come down memory lane with me as I review the evolution of etiquette through a sampling of my books:
• 1995. Prentice Hall Complete Business Etiquette Handbook was one of the first books written on business etiquette. Do you remember that in 1995, people weren't using email in business, mobile phones were confined to motor vehicles, and Friday business casual wasn't a common practice? In this book, I discuss business letters and paper memos extensively (this was "snail mail" before the term was widely used). There was no discussion of emails, gender etiquette or telecommuting, and only a small section on car phones and business-casual dress.
• 2001. The first edition of my book When the Little Things Count…and They Always Count introduced email guidelines for the workplace. Communicating via email was now common and many issues needed to be addressed. There is a small section entitled "Smart Cellular Telephone Use." Telecommuting and gender etiquette were mentioned for the first time, as they had become areas of interest.
• 2004. The Jerk with the Cell Phone does not discuss Smartphones or texting, as neither was in common use at the time. I did remind people not to use their phones in the bathroom, and I still have to do that today!
• 2006. New Rules@Work discusses blogs for the first time, though my blog didn't start until 2009. For most of us, social media was still in the future.
• 2013. The Essentials of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat and Tweet Your Way to Success provides an in-depth look at business etiquette today, including a comprehensive discussion of social media, use of Smartphones, texting, and blogging. Business-casual dress is discussed in detail. How things have changed since 1995!
Business etiquette is always evolving. Any thoughts on the next area of business life that will need etiquette guidelines? As always, I welcome your input.
Barbara
PS: The Essentials of Business Etiquette will be available soon. Reserve your copy now.
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| | Powerful Presentation Skills Seminar or Coaching
 Do you dread giving presentations? You are not alone! Yet your ability to give powerful presentations is essential in today's business environment. And how you deliver your ideas is as critical as the ideas themselves.
The Pachter & Associates' presentation skills training will equip you with the skills and confidence to develop, organize and deliver an effective presentation. Offered as a group seminar or individual coaching. To schedule training or for more information, contact Joyce Hoff at 856-751-6141 or joyce@pachter.com.
 Socializing on a Shoestring:
Wine and Dine Customers
on a Budget
The economy is on the mend but your budget may still be restricted. Yet socializing with your customers is still an important way to cultivate business. How do you continue to entertain business clients and still be fiscally responsible?
Follow these tips so you don't have to spend a small fortune to have a good meal:
1. Pick the restaurant carefully. There are many excellent restaurants offering different price ranges. Get recommendations from other people, visit restaurants in advance to check them out, or check menu prices on restaurants' websites.
2. Make suggestions in the mid-price range. As a host, it is your responsibility to make recommendations to your guests. You don't have to recommend the most expensive items.
3. Don't order the specials unless you know the price. Many waiters do not mention the price when telling you their specials of the night. Specials can cost from 10 to 40 percent more than regular menu items, but you cannot comfortably ask the price of a special in front of your guest. So, don't order a special yourself – but grin and bear it if your guest does.
4. Manage the ordering of the wine. Learn a little about wine so you can take charge of the ordering of the wine. There are lots of good wines at reasonable prices. If you turn the wine choice over to your guest, he or she may order a much more expensive wine than your budget can accommodate.
5. Preorder the dinner, if hosting a number of people. You can usually pick three entrees ahead of time. Many restaurants will print a special menu for your guests if you are dining in a private room. Speak to waiters before the meal and instruct them not to refill the wine glasses unless the glass is empty, or the guest has asked for more. Waiters will pour freely, increasing your bill, unless instructed not to do so.
6. Stay sober. It is easy to lose control and forget your budget if you have had too much to drink. Order a drink you don't like, and you will be more likely to nurse it all evening.
7. Discreetly use any coupons you may have. Many restaurants offer discount coupons. You can arrange ahead of time to pay the check away from the table, so your guest does not see the bill-paying procedure.
8. It doesn't always have to be dinner. Lunch and even breakfast can provide an opportunity to socialize with your customers during a less-expensive meal.
Pachter & Associates is an international communications company providing group training and individual coaching in the areas of Business Etiquette, Assertive Communication, Presentation Skills, Women in Business, International Etiquette, Positive Confrontation and Business Writing.
For more information, visit us at pachter.com or call 856-751-6141.
Requests to reproduce our articles for commercial or other public use must be made in writing to Barbara Pachter at bpachter@pachter.com.
© Pachter & Associates 2013 | | |