Modern Manners & Etiquette Training Sessions

The Power of a Professional Advantage:

business-cards

Whether business professionals are interacting in the boardroom, over a meal, or in a virtual setting, research shows that their success depends more heavily on “soft skills” rather than on technical or fact-based knowledge.

Modern Business Etiquette

Savvy professionals know that there is an appropriate way to interact with colleagues. Modern Business Manners & Etiquette offers you the power of stress-free positive interactions by teaching the following skills:

  • Making a Memorable Entrance
  • Eye Contact
  • Poise & Presence
  • Soft Skills & Body Language Basics
  • Introducing Yourself and Your Business Colleagues
  • Proper Response to Business Introductions
  • Breaking into an Existing Conversation
  • Forms of Address
  • Remembering Names & Name Tags
  • Exchanging Business Cards
  • 10 Types of Handshakes
  • Mastering a Professional Handshake
  • Mobile Phone Manners

Professional Networking:

business-networking

Relationship-building is an integral part of business success, and this training builds confidence, poise and finesse to business networking encounters by focusing on the following:

  • Preparing for the Event
  • Cocktail Hour Know-how
  • How to Enter and Work a Room
  • Passed Hors d’oeuvres
  • Buffet and Beverage Etiquette
  • Juggling Beverage & Hors d’oeuvres
  • Acting as an Ambassador
  • Appropriate Body Language
  • Conversations: Opening & Closing
  • Appropriate Conversational Topics
  • Do’s & Taboos

Take a Deeper Dive

Beyond the essential communications and etiquette training, we also provide more in-depth training on additional business communication topics. From selecting wine, and email etiquette to preparing university students for global careers, you’ll gain deeper insights to feel more comfortable engaging with professionals outside the boardroom.

Modern Dining Manners

Dining Etiquette:

dining-etiquette

Sharon Schweitzer Modern Table Manners photo from corporate training session

Most executives haven’t had the luxury of a finishing school experience. This seminar provides the tools to increase confidence at a crucial lunch or dinner meeting. The tutorial is guaranteed to improve and polish dining skills and may include a four-course or customized luncheon or dinner. Participants will engage in the hands-on experience of:

  • Extending the Invitation
  • Guest and Host Duties
  • Navigating the Place Setting
  • Menu Pronunciations
  • Silverware Skills & Napkin Etiquette
  • Silent Service Codes & Nonverbal Cues
  • Handling Difficult Foods
  • Removing Unwanted Food Gracefully  
  • Do’s & Taboos
  • Paying the Bill & Tipping

Global Fine Dining

For the ultimate experience, we offer a global fine dining session featuring New and Old World wine along with U.S. American and Continental styles of dining:

  • Business Entertaining
  • Receiving Lines
  • U.S. American & Continental Foods & Styles of Dining
  • Toasting: Making & Responding
  • Eating Various Foods
  • World Class Dining Dos & Don’ts
  • Global Tipping

Asian Style Dining

We also offer Asian style dining sessions customized to a region or country.

  • Host & Guest Duties
  • Using Chopsticks Properly
  • Clean Plate Cultures
  • Toasting
  • Do’s & Taboos
  • Reciprocity
“Food is part of culture. Worldwide, many business deals are sealed with meals, so know the difference between eating and dining.” –Sharon Schweitzer

Modern Wine Manners

In the corporate world, introducing wine into a business or social meal adds another dimension. This is why Access to Culture offers a comprehensive wine training session that covers:

  • Wine Etiquette
  • Toast Savvy
  • Cocktail Hour Customs
  • Understanding Stemware
  • Navigating the Complex Wine Setting
  • What to Do When Things Get Bubbly

Netiquette | Modern Tech Manners

workplace-imageModern Tech Manners in a Digital Age

Email is one of the primary modes of business communication today, resulting in the closing of deals, key transactions and relationship building. In Email Statistics Report, 2015-2019 by the Radicati Group, Inc., email users are expected to grow to 2.9 billion people worldwide by 2019. The same research sheds light on the role email plays in business, with 205 billion business and consumer emails sent and received daily. The following trainings are offered:

Modern Email Manners:

  • Subject Line Importance
  • Addressing Recipients
  • Reply, Reply All, bcc
  • Appropriate Tone
  • Finishing Touches
  • Closing Options
  • Professional Signatures
  • Appropriate Attachments

Global Email Manners:

Email etiquette varies cross-culturally. Knowing these differences can help make or break your business endeavors. With an average of 122 business emails sent and received per day per user, set yourself apart in a global market by ensuring each email is aptly targeted for your global partners.

  • Email Handshakes & Personal Introductions
  • Establishing Rapport
  • Destination Culture Greetings & Closings
  • Degrees of Urgency
  • Metric System & Temperature Conversions
  • 12-hour Clock and Date Formats
  • Culture Specific Tone & Humor
  • Important Contact Information

Social Media Manners:

Social Media has become an integral part of business as an informational and marketing platform. With this relatively new and ever-changing technology, it is imperative to set parameters and guidelines for your organization’s social media usage. This session will assist in maintaining a stellar brand reputation and covers:

  • Social Media Platforms
  • Privacy
  • Introductions
  • Virtual Relationships
  • Setting Boundaries & Limits
  • Online Respect and Conflict Resolution
  • What to Post
  • PR, Virtual Mistakes & Online Ego

University Student Training: Training Future Attorneys & Business Leaders

UT-Tower

Today’s graduates must offer more than a degree and have to be well prepared for a challenging business environment. Business relationships are developed and maintained in social situations including dinners, luncheons, fundraisers and cocktail parties.

Relationships often begin in the job interview, where a candidate has only a few seconds to make an excellent first impression. In order to have a competitive advantage in an interview or a first job, students need to be confident and prepared. A strong career services office can provide numerous resources for students, including the following training:

Photo credit:
Copyright & Photography
by Antony Ng,
Austin, TX USA

 Job Interviewing & Business Networking

interviewing

  • Interview Preparation
  • Personal Appearance
  • First Impressions
  • Proper Business Introductions & Responses
  • Remembering Names & Name Tags
  • Proper Handshake & Eye Contact
  • Appropriate Body Language
  • Post-Interview Thank You

Business Networking

Relationship-building is an integral part of business success, and this training builds confidence, poise and finesse to business networking encounters by focusing on the following:

  • Preparing for the Event
  • Interacting with Alumni & Donors
  • How to Enter and Work a Room
  • Passed Hors d’oeuvres
  • Buffet & Beverage Etiquette
  • Juggling Beverage & Hors d’oeuvres
  • Acting as an Ambassador
  • Appropriate Body Language
  • Conversations: Opening & Closing
  • Appropriate Conversational Topics
  • Do’s & Taboos

Modern Dining Experience

peww-place-setting

Sharon Schweitzer Modern Dining Manners Photo

  • Receiving Potential Employer Invitations
  • Pre-event Preparation
  • Guest and Host Responsibilities
  • Arrival, Valet & Cloakroom
  • Seating
  • Ordering from the Menu & Menu Pronunciations
  • Navigating the Napkin & Place Setting  
  • Appropriate Dining Topics
  • Handling Accidents & Interruptions
  • Host’s Silent Signals

International Protocol

international-flags

  • First Impressions
  • International Rank and Status Awareness
  • Introductions of Professors and Strategic Dos & Don’ts for Students
  • How to Address Others in the Global Arena
  • Professional Handshakes
  • Global Communication Styles, Gestures & Eye Contact
  • Global Conversation Skills
  • Make an Effective Entrance & Mingle
  • Cultural Awareness
  • Global Gift Giving & Global Business Card Protocol  
Contact us about a course

Recent Blog Posts

Seven Stellar Slovak Women

Seven Stellar Slovak Women   By Sharon Schweitzer Continuing on the topic of Women's History Month, here is a glimpse of seven spectacular Slovak women that changed history.  Elena Marothy-Soltesova (the first feminist)-was a Slovak [...]

Remarkable Polish Women-Women’s History Month

Remarkable Polish Women-Women's History Month   By Sharon Schweitzer As we come to the end of our global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women during Women’s History Month, the women of Poland [...]