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Articles from Diane Craig | Selfgrowth.com
- Networking for Success: Navigating the Business Cocktail Party - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2012 from Diane CraigWhat better context both to form new business contacts and to develop existing connections than at a business cocktail party, which has a more casual and relaxed vibe than the office – but still maintains a professional overtone? Business cocktail parties are a great opportunity to break out of ...
Views: 4540 - Cell Phones at the Dinner Table – Are the Times Changing? - by Submitted on Mar 21, 2012 from Diane CraigAre cell phones appropriate at the dinner table? For many, the answer is an obvious “no.” Not only answering a call or viewing a text at a meal, but also placing the phone on the table or refusing to turn it on silent are considered rude gestures while dining. Yet for a younger generation ...
Views: 1730(1 vote) - An Evening of Elegance: The Formal Gala - by Submitted on Mar 21, 2012 from Diane CraigThe pencil skirt and matching blazer, the pantsuit, the crisp cotton blouse: if you are a working professional, most likely you have become accustomed to dressing for business from 9 to 5 every day and have the wardrobe to prove it. But what about those occasions which merit something more than ...
Views: 2092 - Managing Internal Email Overload - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2012 from Diane CraigWe send and receive dozens of work-related emails every day. Messages – often ones that are internal communications – crowd our inboxes and our time. But how many of those incoming emails are truly necessary and important? When does the amount of spent reading and responding to colleagues’ ...
Views: 1493 - Making the Most of Your Company’s Social Media Presence - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2012 from Diane CraigYour company’s online presence is multifunctional: it can serve as a first impression for new or prospective clients; in addition, it keeps your existing partners, clients, shareholders, and any other relevant contacts connected to your business and updated on your current work. And if you want ...
Views: 955 - The Benefits of Corporate Volunteering - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2012 from Diane CraigOther than quick morning greetings or lunchtime conversations, how do you connect with your employees or colleagues on a personal level? A few days throughout the year dedicated to team-building activities or corporate outings provide an excellent context for developing relationships within your ...
Views: 1212(1 vote) - Choosing the Right Image Consultant - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2012 from Diane CraigLooking to sharpen your professional image? Working one-on-one with an image consultant is a great way to boost your style and skills. An image consultant can coach you on your attire, professional demeanour, grooming and makeup, verbal skills, and body language. You can also hire a consultant ...
Views: 1054 - Cubicle Culture: Etiquette in Open Office Spaces - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2012 from Diane CraigIn any office, it is important to be respectful of others’ workspaces, as well as mindful of the presentation of your own. When your office layout is composed of cubicles or is an open environment, considerations of space and conduct are doubly important. As a component of the shared office, all ...
Views: 2994 - Strengthening Your Client Relationships – and Your Muscles - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2012 from Diane CraigHow do you build strong relationships with your clients? For many, networking with clients outside the office is as important as the work done during business hours. This often takes the form of extensive dinners or late nights of eating and drinking. However, as we head into the New Year after ...
Views: 1389(1 vote) - Finding a Work-Life Balance During the Holidays - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2011 from Diane CraigHappy holidays! It’s time for most businesses to close down in observance of Christmas and the New Year. But when we’re constantly caught up in the fast pace of the office, it can be hard to stop working entirely and to enjoy the time off. A few extra days without constant meetings and incoming ...
Views: 1090(1 vote) - Checking In: The Etiquette of Hotel Stays - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2011 from Diane CraigAre you vacationing this Christmas on a sunny beach or in a faraway romantic city? Or will the New Year bring business travels to out-of-town meetings or conferences? Wherever your travels take you, most likely you will choose to stay in a hotel as your accommodation. There’s nothing new about a ...
Views: 1050 - Keep Your Business Communication Skills Sharp: The Latest in Social Networking - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigA captivating new phenomenon in business communication recently has emerged: office-wide social networking sites. Reading an article in The Globe and Mail last week detailing the pros and cons of this rapidly growing form of internal communication, I was struck by the possibilities for valuable ...
Views: 1076 - International Etiquette Tips – for Travellers on Business or on Holiday - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigLong plane rides lend plenty of time for reflection. On an 8-hour flight home from vacation this summer, I started thinking about how handy my business trip to-do list is, even for casual summer holidays like this one. Sometimes international travellers will head to the airport without thinking ...
Views: 947 - Staying Business-Ready in Unpredictable Weather - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigIt’s that time of year again: crisp, bright mornings; fall foliage in a stunning palette of gold, red, and orange; the freshest picks of the fall harvest. Autumn has so much to offer – yet here in Toronto, I already felt the first pangs of longing for the recent summer when the weather turned ...
Views: 1602 - Leadership: An Indispensable Skill for Successful Professionals and Companies - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigLeadership is a skill that is not reserved solely for managers, directors, VPs, or anyone else who is the head of a department or a company. It is a crucial quality that any valuable employee should demonstrate in some form or another in the workplace. The term “leadership” can encompass a wide ...
Views: 1079(1 vote) - Five Steps to Your Next Job: A New Resource for the Contemporary Job Market - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigThe job search can be daunting, whether you have just entered the market for the first time or you are seeking a change after years of employment. Finding a new job requires not only persistence and determination, but also a sound set of tools, including your resume, cover letter, interview ...
Views: 1047 - Five Steps to Your Next Job: A New Resource for the Contemporary Job Market - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigThe job search can be daunting, whether you have just entered the market for the first time or you are seeking a change after years of employment. Finding a new job requires not only persistence and determination, but also a sound set of tools, including your resume, cover letter, interview ...
Views: 1147 - Jacqueline Kennedy, Timeless Style Icon - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigLast month, a series of conversations recorded in 1964 between Jacqueline Kennedy and Arthur Schlesinger Jr., a former Kennedy aide, was published into the latest book on the legendary first lady – and one of my favourite 20th-century style icons – titled Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic ...
Views: 2141 - Five Steps to Your Next Job: Interviews and Executive Dining Etiquette - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigLast week I reviewed Narinder K. Mehta’s recent publication, Five Steps to Your Next Job, a valuable resource for anyone on the job hunt. In my previous post, I featured the book’s insight on the latest trends in the contemporary job market, notably building your resume and making professional ...
Views: 1194 - Sparkle and Shine: Dressing for the Office Holiday Party - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigLet the festivities begin! It’s time to celebrate the season at the office holiday party. Where are you headed – to an after-work cocktail, to a semi-formal party or dinner, or to a full-out formal gala? And, have you decided what you’re going to wear? Planning your office Christmas party attire ...
Views: 2121 - Warm Winter Wishes: Sending Holiday Cards to Family, Friends, and Business Contacts - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigConsider your usual written correspondences: most likely you write and receive dozens of emails every day, and text messages fly in and out of your cell phone. Concise and rapid messages are ideal on busy workdays when there are plenty of proposals, meetings, and follow-ups to fill up your ...
Views: 1730 - The Courteous and Stylish Holiday Traveler - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2011 from Diane CraigIt’s December 23rd, and all you want is to be home with your family in time for Christmas. Instead, you are stuck in an airport with thousands of other stranded travelers. Weather delays, crowded airports and planes, the potential of missing Christmas altogether – there are many reasons why ...
Views: 979 - Tools of the Trade: The Value of Professional Accessories - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2011 from Diane CraigA well-rounded selection of business attire is essential for any professional. Yet I would add that the right set of business accessories is equally as important in developing a polished image for the workplace. Professional accoutrements combine form and function to give the impression of a ...
Views: 1430 - How to Give a Winning Presentation – 6 Great Tips - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2011 from Diane CraigBiina Feldman joined our team this year and we are thrilled to be working with her. Bina just wrote a fabulous article on How To Give Presentations which I am certain you will find great golden nuggets in. Enjoy and thank you Bina! Children in grade school are giving presentations. High ...
Views: 1615(2 votes) - Corporate Menu Planning Primer - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2011 from Diane CraigThe expression “attention to detail” has become something of a cliché on most job descriptions. What job doesn’t require attention to detail? But recently, I witnessed first hand, a group of professionals whose entire workload is attention to detail. My mission was to provide training for Event ...
Views: 1674 - Charisma: Connecting physically, emotionally and intelectually - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2011 from Diane CraigBefore the Statute of Limitations runs out on making resolutions, I have a suggestion. Not a casual, easily cast aside resolution like signing up for spin class or cutting back on caffeine, but a biggie and one that calls for commitment. Executive presence is the core of my suggestion and in ...
Views: 2354 - Christine’s triumph: rebuilding a positive self-image - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2011 from Diane CraigI’ve belonged to numerous gyms and health clubs over the years and it never fails to amaze me that every “resolutionist” in town signs up for membership at MY gym in January. This year was no different. I showed up at my usual time and voilà — all the machines were in overdrive with bodies ...
Views: 1338(2 votes) - Goal setting: Tips to achieving personal success - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2011 from Diane CraigAlmost exactly to the day, fifteen years ago, I established a special ritual. It was January 1, 1996 and as I prepared to actually write down my goals for the year, it never occurred to me that this exercise would become a fulfilling rite that motivates me to dream big and better. From ...
Views: 1824(1 vote) - A magical playground on the world’s largest cruise ship — Allure of the Seas - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2010 from Diane CraigMy invitation arrived unannounced. Just as I was rushing out to a meeting, an email came in from my client, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL). I started reading and right at the end of the message, there it was: “I want you to know how much I value your partnership … I’d like to invite you and ...
Views: 1682(1 vote) - Dressing up, not down: Clothing does send a message - by Submitted on Nov 28, 2010 from Diane CraigNo, I am not a clothing snob. Just because I nix flip-flops in the office and cargo shorts for Dress-down Fridays does not mean my idea of sartorial splendour begins and ends with Savile Row. I will admit to a soft spot for black tie, a fondness for three-piece suits and a liking for tweed ...
Views: 3643(4 votes) - E-body language — cornerstone of business communications - by Submitted on Nov 28, 2010 from Diane CraigWhen I established my Executive Presence Training Program, body language was an important building block. Still is, when you consider that our strongest impressions are conveyed visually. The subtleties or nuances of even minimal body movements and gestures provide important signals. Body ...
Views: 1386 - Perfect packing for business and pleasure - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2010 from Diane CraigWhen it comes to air travel, anything more than a carry-on is counter productive. It’s not just the lost-luggage-factor that has most women wheeling, not carrying, a single bag onboard. The hassle, the time lost, and often our travel partners, with little or no patience for hanging around ...
Views: 2011(4 votes) - Talbots’ Trudy Sullivan personifies Executive Presence - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2010 from Diane CraigRebranding implies excitement. With Supermodel Linda Evangelista as the new face of retailer Talbots, excitement is an understatement. I say this because, to paraphrase garment industry jargon, Talbots delivers the goods. Behind every signature red door, there’s a savvy mix of merchandise. It’s ...
Views: 2887(5 votes) - Re-branding: From stodgy to sensational - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2010 from Diane CraigCreating the right image is a powerful tool for success. This is as true for corporations as it is for individuals. Over the last few months, I’ve been fascinated to watch as traditional retailer Talbots re-branded itself from a chain for conservative, some would say stodgy, sixty-somethings to ...
Views: 1235(1 vote) - Size doesn’t really matter - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2010 from Diane CraigIn fitting rooms across the planet, “Does it make me look fat?” — is without a doubt the pivotal issue that makes or breaks a clothing sale. Ultimately, it’s a rhetorical question because the woman doing the trying-on will make the call herself. If she has even the slightest uncertainty that the ...
Views: 1872(2 votes) - Exemplary Executive Conduct — the Emblem of Every Successful Organization - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2010 from Diane CraigI am a real advocate of looking up the ladder to role models, for cues and guidelines, so I was truly exasperated to hear the following story: A young colleague of mine, let’s call her Mandy, returned from a recent meeting so agitated, not even an iced cappuccino (with whipped cream!) would ...
Views: 1385 - Why Inappropriate Dress at Work May Send the Wrong Message - by Submitted on Aug 16, 2010 from Diane CraigIn my book, eavesdropping is snooping. It may be accepted behaviour in spy novels and British mystery programs but unless your name is Inspector Poirot, eavesdropping is a no-no. Last week, I admit, I had an Inspector Poirot moment. Really. I couldn’t help myself because as I was having lunch ...
Views: 2337 - Tips to match your business attire to fit the country you are working in and traveling to - by Submitted on Aug 18, 2010 from Diane CraigAccording to the recent Ipsos/Reuters survey conducted in 24 countries around the world, there is considerable disagreement about business dress codes. That's not to say workplace attire is an international hot potato with daily conference calls between Brussels and Singapore thrashing out the ...
Views: 2426 - Executive Presence and Polish Spell Etiquette - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2009 from Diane CraigAs 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 ...
Views: 2430(1 vote) - Time Out – For Time Well Spent - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2009 from Diane CraigSummer always seems to slip away. This year in Toronto, summer never really arrived and now it seems to be over. So last Sunday, I decided to celebrate the season with a brief interlude – to make a clean break from the incessant busyness that fills my week and spend the day with a dear ...
Views: 1585(2 votes) - Time Out - for Time Well Spent - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Diane Craig
Views: 1487(2 votes) - Minding Your PDA P’s and Q’s - by Submitted on Aug 21, 2009 from Diane CraigNew party protocols? I’d venture to say that PDAs are more commonly carried than pens, or even combs, in the pockets and purses of most urbanites. Every week, I receive questions for BlackBerry etiquette or iPhone protocols and our May newsletter provided tweetiquette tips. Social ...
Views: 1579(1 vote) - Document Dilemma - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Diane CraigManaging your office environment Apple Stores across North America take pride in being paperless environments. They use technology to circumvent reams of paper, with only an occasional departure from their paperless guidelines. Apple may be the exception, rather than the rule. If memory ...
Views: 3718(1 vote) - I Am So Sorry! - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Diane CraigA Few Words on Apologies Last fall, on a walking tour of downtown Toronto with my son, a particularly attractive building caught my attention. I was so busy admiring its architecture that I didn’t see the bench in my path. Boom! I took a tumble worthy of a Hollywood stuntwoman. It was ...
Views: 1312(1 vote) - Gym Etiquette or "Correct Form" - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Diane CraigTen Tips From a Professional Trainer Some friends and colleagues, notably women, have left the locker room behind for yoga and Pilates studios, but I‘m sticking and staying with my regular workout at the gym. Not every day, but three times a week – early morning, at lunch, or in a pinch ...
Views: 2040(1 vote) - Goodwill Stores - A Cool Place to Shop - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Diane CraigTrend-spotting off the Beaten Path Style-makers and trendsetters, even Hollywood celebrities, have long known the benefits of combing Goodwill Stores for hidden gems, but a funny thing happened on our way through the recession. Goodwill stores across North America noticed an increase in ...
Views: 3627(3 votes) - Forbidden Words - Cursing and Swearing - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2009 from Diane CraigEarlier this month, Global News asked me to appear on the 6 o’clock news to comment on the social taboo of foul language or cursing and swearing. I was being asked to comment on the etiquette of cursing–an oxymoron if ever I heard one! (Swearing – meaning solemn promise – is another subject ...
Views: 2264(1 vote) - RSVP or Répondez s’il-vous-plait - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2009 from Diane CraigTranslation: please respond A client writes: There seems to be a lot of confusion about RSVP. I noticed this with two invitations I recently sent out. The first was to an intimate bridal shower at my home, and the second, to a costly destination wedding. I understand my experience was ...
Views: 1682 - Sound Advice for New Recruits - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2009 from Diane CraigRecently, it occurred to me that the sessions and workshops I deliver to corporations’ new recruits could be called Business Boot Camp. Fitness marketers have created a designation called “body boot camps” and I see an interesting parallel. My role, like that of the fitness instructors at ...
Views: 1296(1 vote) - Trend spotting - Coffee is the new lunch - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2009 from Diane CraigTrend spotting - Coffee is the new lunch Times change. "Green is the new black." Who could have imagined that two clashing forces - the Fashion Media and Birkenstockers - would stand united by this simple phrase? Surpassing its creators' wildest dreams, "green is the new black," has ...
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