~ The Online Source for Expert Advice on Workplace Conduct~
For more advice on Work etiquette, visit their website www.worketiquette.co.uk or visit our Blog for weekly updates on the topic.

Business Meeting Etiquette

Etiquette in business can come in a variety of forms – be it a business lunch to your choice of attire at an awards ceremony but the most crucial area in which etiquette can mean the difference between a company gaining or losing thousands of pounds is in a meeting setting. There are different types of meetings. They can be both formal and informal and can be held with clients customers or fellow colleagues but the one thing they all have in common is that they usually result in success or failure. And, if you only get one area of etiquette correct in business, it’s important that it’s during a meeting situation.

Formal Meetings

Formal meetings can take many forms. There are board meetings, management meetings, team or departmental meetings and business negotiations and whilst they may differ in terms of their content, they’ll usually have a similar structure overall. Usually, they’ll have a chairperson (often referred to simply as ‘chair’ who will preside over the meeting. There will be minutes to attend to which will often include a record of who’s present and perhaps apologies for any absences. There will also be a set-out agenda which will include the topics to be discussed. If you are conducting a meeting which will include references to reports, statistics or any other information, you should make sure that everybody who is going to be attending the meeting each has a copy of all the necessary facts and figures which may be referred to at the meeting a good 3 or 4 days before it takes place, if possible, and everybody should take the trouble to familiarise themselves with all this paperwork prior to the meeting. Therefore, preparation is important.

Dress and Good Manners

You should dress appropriately for the meeting and be punctual. Make sure that you switch off your mobile phone and you might also find that you’re faced with an established, pre-determined seating arrangement so if you’re unsure about where to sit, ask – don’t just sit down anywhere. Acknowledge the chair and once discussions are under way, if there is no set speaking order, it’s good etiquette to allow the most senior members at the meeting to have their say first.

Listen attentively to what’s said and even if you don’t agree with something, you shouldn’t interrupt mid-speech but make a mental note of the issue (if note taking has been encouraged) and come back to that later when it’s your turn to speak, if appropriate. When you are invited to speak, you should usually address the chair unless those who have gone before you have done otherwise and take your cues from their speeches. i.e. If it’s necessary to condense your points because of time restrictions, make sure your comments are succinct but that you include all of your major points and have made sure that they are relevant to the matters at hand. It’s bad manners to deviate from the main purposes of the meeting as set out in the agenda so make sure you’re always ‘on topic’.

Informal Meetings

Informal meetings can consist of many styles and some are more informal than others. Often you will still have a ‘chair’ who will usually be the person who called the meeting but you’ll not necessarily have to follow the protocol of having minutes or a rigid, pre-determined fixed agenda. However, there will be a purpose as to why the meeting was called so it’s still important to be on time and to follow the same basic procedures as you would in a formal meeting in terms of letting more senior members dictate the flow of the meeting although often in informal meetings, there’s more of an opportunity to engage in discussions or open debate. It’s also good etiquette that if somebody cannot attend the meeting, they are still provided with all the relevant details as to what has been discussed at a later point.

Therefore, meetings can take on many guises but you need to show a level of professionalism whether they are held formally or informally. The key elements of etiquette to remember are to be there on time, dress appropriately, know when to speak and when to listen and be courteous and considerate to others. Remember one golden rule too and that is to keep your counsel about what has gone in any meeting and treat it as confidential. More people are guilty of disregarding business meeting etiquette after the meeting has taken place by gossiping to others about the meeting or divulging information that was supposed to be confidential. Therefore, make sure that you don’t fall into this trap as it will undo all the hard work and effort you put in at the meeting itself and this will undermine your reputation.

Here are a few Style Inspirations!

                                       

                       Shop this Look                                      Shop this Dress                             Shop this Look

Nothing To Wear? Organise Your Closet!
by: Wearittowork.co.uk

Don't deny it, we have all experienced wardrobe dilemma's, and started the day behind schedule because there is "absolutely nothing to wear" in our closets.
In an ideal world, you would take the time on sunday to plan your work week outfit, but for us women who think that is just way too organised, there is a proven way to make the most of your current clothes, and supplement them with missing 'key' items.

In a previous blog entry we discussed the 'capsule wardrobe', by investing in the essential and versatile pieces, you will always have something to wear. This is great, and you probably have some great pieces in your closet, but may never wear them.

The key to making the most of your closet is 'categorising' it. In contrary to other suggestions, we don't believe doing this by colour is the most effective way. Much more effective is to organise it by type of garments. So, all your trousers together, all the dresses together, all jackets etc...

This way, you will move from one side of your closet to the other, finding a full outfit together. You will be surprised how much this will offer you new and creative  options and combinations you may never have considered.



      


Here are the steps to follow to make this work:

1. Have a spring-clean of your closet. Get rid of all items you will never wear. Sell them on ebay, give them to a charity, or store them in a box for the children's dress-up box.  Be strict with yourself on worn-out clothing, just because it's your favourite shirt, doesn't mean it still looks good.

2. Hang all your jackets in one section, the trousers in a second section, dresses in a third, etc. Use your drawers for underwear, casual and sports wear. You don't need this mixed up with your day-to-day clothing, as it will only be more cluttered.

3. What are you missing? After having all your clothing in sections you will see which types of clothing you have too much or too little of. Take this as a guideline for your next shopping spree, if you have tons of dresses but only one pair of trousers, make sure you focus on getting a few more trousers, instead of buying yet more dresses. Consider building a 'capsule wardrobe' for your work clothing.

4. Hang your jewelry and scarves in your closets, preferable on hooks, so they are untangled, and ready to wear. Scarves and jewelry are key to optimising your wardobe, along with good shoes.


Once this is done, you will feel like you have a brand new closet, and getting dressed in the morning will be like going to your own personal clothing shop. Good luck, and happy shopping!


Shop all Dresses Now>> 

Shop all Business Suits Now>> 

Shop all Skirts Now>> 

Shop all Trousers Now>> 

Shop all Tops Now>> 

Shop all Accessories & Shoes Now>> 

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Thanks!

~ The Online Source for Expert Advice on Workplace Conduct~
For more advice on Work etiquette, visit their website www.worketiquette.co.uk or visit our Blog for weekly updates on the topic.


How to fit in to a new workplace

It doesn’t matter how much self-confidence you have starting a new job in a new workplace is daunting for everybody. Whilst you might begin your first day exuberant and excited about the new challenges ahead, you’re also likely to be feeling nervous, daunted and quite stressed. This is all perfectly natural, however, and it’s important to remember that your new employer, as well as the colleagues you’ll be working with, will not be expecting miracles straight away and that they’ll want to help you settle in as quickly and as smoothly as possible. They’ll have been the ‘newbie’ too at some time or other, remember. There are, however, some useful steps you can take to make the transition as smooth and as painless as possible.

Clothing

Probably the first thing you’ll want to know before you even start work, if you don’t already know, is what the appropriate dress code is. You don’t want to look as if you’re going to a dinner dance if you turn up and everyone is dressed casually. Yet, neither will you want to turn up in jeans if everyone’s wearing business suits so, in order that you ‘blend in’ on your first day, it’s important to dress appropriately. Don’t just assume that “it’s this type of company so it will probably be OK to wear that”. Even within the same industry, there can be very different accepted dress codes.

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of both your immediate supervisor, your colleagues and your boss. They can’t expect you to know everything straight away so they’ll be expecting a barrage of questions from you anyway so you shouldn’t feel stupid asking a lot of questions. Remember, companies would rather you asked a hundred questions than blindly try to carry out your duties without really knowing what you’re doing as it can prove very costly both in monetary times and in time lost if you carry on regardless only to find that the errors you’ve made need to all be fixed later so, if you have any doubts about anything, you should just ask.

Learn How the Equipment Works

Whether you have an office job or you work in a manual capacity, you’re bound to come up against some kind of tools or machinery that you’ve never worked with before so find out the equipment you need to use and how it works. It’s often handy to scribble down a few notes or stick Post-It instructions up as learning how new machinery works can sometimes be complex and, if someone has taken a fair amount of time explaining how something works, you should try to grasp the basics straight away so that you don’t have to keep pulling them away from their work to repeat the instructions.

Be Proactive

As a ‘newbie’ on staff, you’ll probably find that you won’t often be given too much to do over the course of your first few days as your employer will be more interested in helping you settle in initially and to just give you a ‘feel’ of what you’re going to be faced with later. However, if you find that you’ve taken to your new role like a ‘duck to water’, don’t just sit there idly twiddling your thumbs and staring out of the window but be proactive and ask your supervisor or colleagues nearby if you can do anything else for them. They may be glad of the extra help.

Be Friendly

It’s important you don’t overpower your new work colleagues with ‘chit-chat’ during your first few days and don’t get involved in office gossip either – you’re there to work after all. However, that doesn’t mean you should bury your head in paperwork or hide behind your computer screen or machine either. Take your cues from your colleagues and if they are chatting away as they’re working, make sure you join in too. The sooner you get to know your colleagues, the more settled, comfortable and ‘part of the firm’ you’ll feel. Be considerate and respectful too.

Don’t Overdo It!

Remember, you’ve been given this new job on your merits. This might be because of how you came across at interview, the skills you’re bringing with you and other personal qualities and it will probably be a combination of all three. So, whilst it’s important that you’re able to carry out your duties as best you can and as soon as you can, don’t try to over-impress by staying back and working late or taking on too many responsibilities above and beyond your job description too soon as you may find that you’ll be continually played on in the future.

Different people will settle into new jobs at different rates and, if you’ve joined the company alongside other new recruits at the same time, don’t get upset or frustrated if it takes you a little longer to settle in and to grasp new concepts and ways of doing things. Somebody will always be the quickest and somebody will always be the slowest – that’s just life. The key thing to remember is to simply do your best, to ask questions if need be and to be friendly and courteous. As long as you follow these tips, you should find that, within a few weeks, you’ll think you have been in the job for years and always remember, there’s always going to be another ‘newbie’ to take that label off you soon enough.

Here are a few Style Inspirations!

                                    

                                                 Shop this Look                       Shop this Look                        Coming Soon!

Style Elections 2010

Image Consultant Linda Pitts shares one entertaining article with Wearittowork.co.uk


Sarah Brown

          


The curvy ‘Classic/City Chic’

It’s hard for a politician’s wife not to take on the mantle of sensible dressing - appearing too ‘fashionable’ can give the wrong impression. Sarah Brown has upped the style ante in the last two years, and well done her! She has a voluptuous figure with natural curves and looks very confident in the clothes she wears.

Her style personality was previously more ‘Classic’ but she has developed into a ‘City Chic’ exchanging the stiff shirts for stylish tops and paying more attention to how she puts it all together (or hiring in someone that does!). Her use of softer tailoring and fluid fabrics flatter her hourglass figure perfectly.

Like all women of this shape, Sarah does need to be careful not to add volume around the hip area but she can still accentuate her waist. The midnight blue gown with gold collar she wore at the Elle Style awards was stunning; the soft fabric complemented her curves and the collar brought attention to her upper body instead of her hips.
Skirt lengths are important for her too and she looks best when


wearing hemlines that finish at the narrowest part of her legs (and not above the knees please!). She has a lovely long neck and great décolletage which she should, and often does, show off nicely with flattering necklines and jewellery.

Colouring
Sarah has a lot of warmth in her colouring and doesn’t always wear the best colours for her. She looks gorgeous in charcoal greys, olive to lime greens, rich browns, turquoise, navy, gold and cream.

This season Sarah can really make the most of the softer, feminine tailoring and deconstructed fabrics such as soft chiffon and silks. For pattern she needs soft edged designs such as flowers or spots to work with her curves rather than angular shapes. Because of her height and scale she can carry medium to large patterns well. This Spring’s elegant khaki and lime shades and the strong oranges and tangerines will look fabulous on her.

Learning to dress your body shape takes a bit of time and know how.



Samantha Cameron


            


The ‘City-Chic’ and ‘Natural’ with a youthful figure

Enter centre stage -  Samantha Cameron. Samantha is a true ‘City Chic’ who pays a lot of attention to choosing her garments and accessories. She loves her handbags, belts and shoes. Her hair is always well groomed but not over-styled. She has a bit of ‘Natural’ in her style personality too and looks very happy and cute in a pair of jeans with a simple top.

She has quite a sporty figure with little waist definition so she can get away with more embellishment, pattern or layering and in fact, that’s what she really needs. Adding interest, whether pattern, layers or volume, will give more shape to her less curvy figure.

Her style is a bit more fun and fashion-aware than her counterpart; she quirks things up with current looks like a ruffled shirt poking out from a neat jacket or a simple dress with all over pattern.

Samantha is lucky to have such a neat, youthful figure as she can look fabulous in pretty much
anything. It will be interesting to see how ‘SamCam’s’ style changes as her straighter body shape softens and becomes curvier during her pregnancy. All eyes are on her!

Colouring
With a wonderful ‘Clear’ colouring that combines dark hair and very bright eyes she already has a striking look. Bright colours are great on her and she should wear more, although she wears her neutral greys and blacks well, often combining them with another shade to great effect. She will welcome the energy of bold reds or fuchsia when she is feeling tired during her pregnancy.

For Spring and Summer Samantha should take advantage of the range of bright blues, teals and jades as they will be great ‘wow’ shades for her. Her growing bump will dictate her style but two good looks for her would be nautical pieces - which look really fresh and are easy to put together - and graphic patterns in bold colours.
 
If you would like to have advice on which styles and colours suit you best, visit ww.lindapitts.com, and get in touch with her for a personal style consultation.








Contributor: Linda Pitts
Colour & Image Consultant
linda.pitts@cmb.co.uk

Wardrobe Essential Trends

The Ruffle Blouse

Not too long ago we talked about the concept of creating a Capsule Wardrobe (March 29^th 2010). The need for a Capsule Wardrobe is essential, but at the same time there are those items that we need to spice it up with!

Ruffle Blouses are curve -flattering, feminine, and timeless all in one.  Balancing a ruffle blouse with one or two pieces of your capsule wardrobe and you easily create a fresh new look. Pair a ruffle blouse with a clean cut pencil skirt, or straight tailored trousers, add a belt, and you will look trendy while keeping it professional.

How to wear Ruffle Blouses

There should only be one ruffle element in your outfit

Ruffles add detail to your outfit and should only be found in one place, like for example the neckline. Try avoiding suffocating in ruffles, otherwise the Can-Can girl association might ring you up.

Pair the Ruffle Blouse with solid colours and tailored items

To achieve a great style pair your Ruffle Blouse with a fitted Black Blazer or a simple Cardigan. If you opt for a skirt try a pencil skirt. Trousers should be straight or boot cut, in order to balance the attention of the outfit.

You want curves?

You want to pick Ruffled Blouses that are ruffled at the hemline, to visually create wider hips. 

You have a small chest?

Avoid ruffles along the hemline, as it will make your chest look even smaller. Pick ruffles along the neckline or bust area. This is will definitely enhance your silhouette.

  Here is Eva Longora with a beautiful Ruffle Blouse!

These are a few Tips how a Ruffle Blouse can spice up your style!

 Here are a few of our Style Inspirations with the Ruffle Blouse: 

 

        
                    Shop this Blouse                                                  Shop this Blouse

                   Shop this Blouse
                                            
      
                   Shop This Look                                                                              Shop This Look


    


                     Shop This Look                                                                           Or how about a Ruffle Dress?

 ~ The Online Source for Expert Advice on Workplace Conduct~

For more advice on Work etiquette, visit their website www.worketiquette.co.uk or visit our Blog for weekly updates on the topic.

Giving a Presentation

Before looking at how to give a presentation it would be worthwhile you taking a look at the related article on this website entitled ‘How To Make A Speech’ as many of the skills you need to be able to give a good presentation are very similar to those needed for effective speech making so, in terms of considering your audience, the topics you’re going to discuss, rehearsing and how to project your voice etc., please refer to the speech making article for more tips on that aspect as they would be very similar for giving a presentation. This article, however, will look more at the kinds of issues that tend to be more specific to presentations as opposed to speeches with two of the most common factors being the use of visual aids and audience participation.

Using Visual Aids

Technology has become so advanced these days that presentations can often be just as exciting and drama-packed as watching a theatre production. They can incorporate pyrotechnics, sound effects, background music and much more to create the effects the presenter wants to give. However, if you’re asked to give a presentation at work you’re less likely to be going too far ‘over the top’, yet there are still many ways in which you can add value to your presentation and to keep your audience’s attention more effectively than you might be able to in making a speech.

PowerPoint presentations can be highly effective by putting the focus onto key elements within each section of a presentation with the use of frames containing bullet points which can swoosh in from the side or explode in to the centre of the screen and there are all sorts of other effects in between. Then you can use a slide projector, overhead projector, flip charts, posters and several other things besides. The important thing to bear in mind when using visual aids is to ask yourself, “does the visual aid add to an understanding of the information I’m trying to get across?” If you can say ‘yes’ to that, then a visual aid should be used at that juncture but if you can’t, don’t use one. Whilst they do liven up a presentation, they should be used carefully to simply illustrate a particular point, as opposed to being the focal point of the presentation. An obvious example of where you could use a visual aid would be where you are explaining sales figures and growth trends within your company, where just verbalising a load of sales figures will have little impact. However, if you have a visual aid which demonstrates a graph of these figures, then your audience are much more likely to understand the importance of the figures you’re conveying to them.

Logical Running Order

Most of the best presentations run in a logical sequence, beginning with point A going on to Point B and so on and so forth. To keep your audience in touch with the significance of what you’re talking about, it’s often a good idea to relay to them the order of events before you begin. That way, they can adapt their minds in knowing the sequence which will help them better understand how all the pieces fit together.

One of the best quotes about giving presentations re-emphasises this point. Unlike a speech, a presentation is often more of a set of jigsaw pieces which all interweave to form a complete whole and this is why, when giving a presentation, it’s often important to refer back and relate something you’ve already mentioned to something you’re talking about 10 minutes later so, try to remember this famous quote as it will help you when structuring your presentation. “Tell them what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then re-iterate what you have already told them.” It might sound confusing but once you get to put a presentation together, you’ll see the validity of this quote.

Common Problems

Try to ensure that all of your visual aids are set up and in the order they are meant to be used before you give your presentation. There’s nothing worse than, say, using a slide projector to illustrate the points you’re making only to find as you turn the projector on that all of the slides are in back to front order. Your biggest nightmare will be if your visual aids are powered by electricity and the supply fails or the machine malfunctions. Obviously, this can never be predicted but it’s a good opportunity to think on your feet and it’s also something you should make a contingency for during your preparations. In other words, try to have a back-up or rescue plan. The graph you’re displaying on a PowerPoint presentation? Well, you could always have that drawn up on a Flip Chart as back up, for example. In other circumstances, you may simply have to think on your feet. For example, if you were going to demonstrate certain facts and figures using a visual aid, are you able to take out the numbers and simply use words to describe the points you are making in terms of general trends instead of referring to specific figures. People will be able to tell the difference between ‘huge growth’ and a ‘slight increase’.

Often, a good way to get around a power failure or a machine malfunction is to have prepared a handout in advance which you can give to each member of your audience before you make your presentation. Of course, don’t forget to keep one for yourself. That way, if you can’t use your visual aids, each member of the audience should still have a hard copy version containing the same kinds of diagrams, graphs, pictures etc. that you intended to show and therefore, the presentation can go on in its original form. Therefore, although highly effective, always think of visual aids as a ‘complement’ to your presentation but don’t rely on them.

Group Presentation

In a group presentation, it often gives you the chance to get out of the spotlight for a while and put others into it. However, there are still issues you need to consider. Things like how you’re going to introduce the next speaker and effect a smooth transition from one speaker to the next will be important in maintaining the flow of your presentation. Does each person also know what the other person is going to be talking about? You don’t want to be duplicating information. It’s also important that each person knows how long they have to speak and not to run overtime as that will hamper the next person’s presentation.

Q&A

Finally, unlike a speech, a presentation will usually involve a question and answer session with the audience. This is often the trickiest part as you, as presenters, are not likely to know exactly what questions you might face and your responses will have to be totally unscripted. All you can do is to consider beforehand what questions you think you might get asked and to prepare answers as best as you can. And, if you’re part of a group, then you also need to ensure that any answers you give as individuals do not conflict with the answers another group member might have given as you’ll lose your credibility if you’re not all ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’.

So, similarly to a speech, preparation is the key to giving a good presentation. Don’t overdo the visual aids but use them effectively and have a back-up plan prepared in case the visuals fail.

Wearittowork says: "There are a few things to consider when dressing for a business presentation. You want to choose clothes that make you feel comfortable, something that looks great on you, and that will not demand your attention once you put it on. We recommend a well tailored suit, or a shift dress. Choose items that have a perfect fit. Here a few suggestions": 

                           Shop This Dress                                        Shop this Look                                       Look COMING SOON!

Firstly, congratulations, you have landed an interview! Now all you have to do is impress the company enough to hire you over the others. This means you need to make sure you get everything right, and leave nothing to chance. At the interview your potential future boss will look at everything you say, do and wear. All these little things can make or break your chances. So, besides a printed copy of your CV, make sure you bring great manners, a positive and friendly attitude... and a professional image.


                                 
                                                      Shop this Look                                       Shop this Look


There is no standard attire for a job interview, it all depends on the company. But, there is a correct attire for each company, and it's up to you to research what's the best choice for you. One way to do that, is by phoning the HR department, and ask them. Always dress smarter than the day-to-day dress code of the business, you want to show you care, and are keen to get the position. Let's say you are going for an office based job. Generally a business suit is the right choice. For men this is a pretty standard set-up, however, women have a few more decisions to make; skirt or trouser suit, colour, shirt etc.

Skirt or Trouser suit? Opt for whichever one is most comfortable for you, and fits your figure best. Some women look amazing in a pencil skirt, others are much better suited in trousers. Whatever you choose, make sure it fits you well, and is comfortable. Its the last thing you want to worry about while answering questions at the interview. Choose simple lines, a pencil skirt, or straight-legged trousers. A short skirt is not a good idea, trust us.

A black business suit is not your only option. There are some excellent, business-appropriate colours out there, which offer much more flexibility when it comes to matching shoes, shirts and accessories. If you do go with black, be careful which colours you match it with. For the interview I suggest you go for a very simple, yet sophisticated look. Don't go for prints of bold colours, stick with very simple jewelry, maybe some pearl earrings, but not too much more. Keep your hair pulled out of your face, in a simple do. Once you have landed the job, you can use that same business suit, and mix and match it with more fashionable accessories like shoes, bags and scarves.

Now, its not always easy for women to find an affordable, yet high quality suit, shift dresses or other office clothes. Women in the UK now have an online one-stop shop for their stylish business clothing. This fairly new shop sells individual clothing pieces, but also entire outfits styled together for inspiration, and daily style inspiration updates. www.wearittowork.co.uk
Good luck getting that job, and building a successful work wardrobe!

WearItToWork.co.uk is designed for time-tight women who want inspiration and choice when it comes to looking the business but don't have time to work the high street. The key to WearItToWork.co.uk is the way its stylists source clothes from different brands and co-ordinate them into ready-to-wear work ensembles with great business looks, from casual dress codes to boardroom confidence, as well as separates like desk-to-drinks dresses. Join Wearittowork.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook!
                                
                                              Shop this Look                                   Shop this Look

 

~ The Online Source for Expert Advice on Workplace Conduct~
For more advice on Work etiquette, visit their website www.worketiquette.co.uk or visit our Blog for weekly updates on the topic.

Business Lunch Etiquette

It’s estimated that more business deals get done over lunch than get done in the board room so it goes without saying that business lunches are not events to be taken lightly nor are they simply about two people or a group of people getting together for a ‘catch-up’ and an excuse not to go back to the office in the afternoon. For those who have experienced countless business lunches they can be something to be looked forward to or they can be loathed but perceived as a necessary part of the job whilst for the uninitiated, the thought of a business lunch is enough to have you quaking in your boots. However, they can be very pleasurable experiences or, at least, bearable if you know a few ‘rules’ about what’s expected and how you should conduct yourself.

Be There On Time

There is nothing more annoying for the person waiting than for their guest(s) being late for a business lunch. Contrary to some people’s opinions, business lunches are not an excuse to take the afternoon off and enjoy yourself and, whilst some will inevitably last longer than others, many busy business people have a strictly managed timetable so, unless it’s absolutely out of your control, never be late for a business lunch. The memory of you arriving late will live long beyond any apology for being so.

 

Turn Off the Mobile

It’s important that you focus on the ‘here and now’ and on your guests. Whilst some people might make the excuse that they need to be ‘on message’ at all times, for the most part, this is incredibly rude and shows a lack of respect. Many people have scuppered big business deals simply by taking a call when they’ve invited their guests with the intention of securing a business deal and then ignored them for a few minutes to take a call.

 

Greetings

Always offer a handshake but, unless you know the person or people with whom you’re having lunch with very well (and that means all of the people attending lunch), don’t be tempted to come out with anything ‘smart’ or funny. What some may find amusing, others might not and that will put them off you straight away. It’s also useful to think of an opening statement as you shake hands if you’ve never met them before e.g. “Thanks for taking the time to come to meet me today, Mr Smith”.

Obviously, if you know the other person quite well, it’s perfectly acceptable to greet them by their first name. And, if you’ve been invited to lunch by a company and they have happened to have brought along group of colleagues, make sure you shake hands with the most senior ranked member first if you know who that is, unless you’ve been invited by a specific individual within a company, then you should shake their hand first and then the rest of the people in the order in which you are introduced to them.

 

Small Talk

This is one of those areas which so often puts people at their ease but which can also cause the most embarrassment. There are no hard and fast rules about how long you should wait until you get around to the subject of business and a general rule of thumb is to be guided by the person who has invited you. If they’re happy to chat about the football last night for 5 minutes or so, go along with that as it will help you relax and put you more at ease for when you get down to the nitty-gritty of discussing business. However, if there are VIPs present or the chairman of the company is there, it’s more likely that they’ll want to keep any small talk to a minimum and get on with the business at hand. It’s always better to take your cue from the person who invited you with regard to this delicate matter.

 

Who pays?

No matter that your guest may be far richer than you, if you’ve done the inviting, you should always pick up the tab. If it’s a joint meeting, you should always ask either at the beginning or before the meeting has taken place how they want to split the bill and not wait until the bill arrives to discuss it as that shows an element of professional weakness. And, if somebody has agreed to meet you as you’re seeking advice from them, not only you should you pay but it’s also good manners to send them a ‘thank you’ note which is handwritten and even perhaps send them a small gift to express your gratitude at giving up some of their time for you.

 

Utensils

Whether it’s your napkin or knife and fork, knowing how to use your utensils is often the one thing that instills fear into everybody who’s not been used to attending a business lunch. It’s quite simple to remember really and most people who get it wrong do so because they’ve been so paralysed by fear and they’ve convinced themselves they will mess up regardless. So, it’s place the napkin on your lap not down your shirt collar and usually, if the napkin is still in the wine goblet and not placed on the table, you can take that to indicate that the waiter will place the napkin on your lap for you. Bread and salad plates are usually placed on your left, drinking glasses on your right.

Utensils like knives, forks and spoons should be used from the outside and work your way in for each course with the dessert spoon by the dessert plate. If you need to excuse yourself whilst the meal is in progress, put the napkin on the left hand side of your plate or on your chair as this indicates to the waiter that you’ve not finished yet. You should always say, ‘Excuse me’ to your guests as you stand up to leave the table. Once you are through with your meal, put the napkin on the right side of the plate and place your knife and fork horizontally across the plate to signal the waiter. Also, remember not to start eating until your host has given some kind of cue to do so.

However, the important thing to remember about business lunches is that they’re usually so focused on business that if you use the wrong knife for a particular course, it’s not going to cost you the ‘deal’. Some people have had far more experience of business lunches than others and it comes more naturally to some people more than others and you get used to them over time as you attend more. So as long as you are polite and respectful, don’t get too agitated at the thought of attending a business lunch, the next time you’re invited to one.

 

Wearittowork says: "There are a few things to consider when dressing for a business lunch. Firstly, you will need to get from your office to the restaurant and back, so wear something comfortable enough to walk around in. Opt for clothes that fit well, and are easy to sit down in. Make sure your skirt is not too short, or a design that rides up when you are sat down. If you are most comfortable with your legs crossed, make sure you wear clothes that do not constrict your movements whilst sat down. A business suit is likely to be a good choice, wear it with a nice blouse, so you can remove your jacket if suitable."

         
                   
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Accessorizing Your Business Suit

One of the best business wardrobe pieces is a perfectly tailored suit. Regardless the color; black, grey, red, or beige, it is likely the appropriate attire for a business occasion. From meeting, to presentation, to a business dinner, the suit will always underline how serious you are about your job, by not taking the attention away from you. There are many praising anthems about the classical business suit, but there is no need for it to be boring. Here are some great ways to accesorise the business suit, while keeping a perfectly polished look.

Generally it's suggested to keep it simple and business like. We suggest six categories to choose from; watches, earrings, scarves, shoes, bags or briefcases, and the essential tights!

Watches

Rather than constantly checking the time on your mobile, opt for an elegant watch. A watch is much more than just an accessory. It is a functional piece of jewelry that shows that you care about punctuality. A quick glance on your fabulous watch is unlikely to be disturbing, opposed to pulling out the mobile phone. When choosing a style go for a classic appearance. Steel, Silver, and Gold are good choices. The bracelet should be simple and elegant. Save the glitzy ones for parties, the simpler the better. Again, you want to underline, and not outshine your character!

Earrings (Necklaces, and Rings)

Whilst earrings have no actual functionality, they are one of the favoured choices for accesorizing the business suit. Pearl earrings are a safe bet for the businesswoman. There is no need for them to be real, as long as they look neat. Choose stud earrings, or simple drops, and avoid anything too large or dangly. 

These are the two key jewelry pieces for women wearing a suit. Should you want to add a necklace or bracelet, make sure it’s a matching piece and ever-so simple. In this case 'less-is-more' is really the case. 

Scarves

Scarves are a great choice for any season. They add texture and colour to your outfit. Consider your choice in fabric; Light cotton is a more relaxed statement, whereas satin and silk are sophisticated and look smart. Here you can also experiment with color. Match it with the color of your shoes, handbag, blouse, or belt. Stay within the color harmony of all of these items.

Shoes

Classic Pumps are always a great choice for business attire. Invest in good quality shoes with a sensible heel, as comfort is key, and style secondary. However, if you are out to make a statement, stick to the classic style of shoe, but in different colours or prints. Ballerina flats have made a comeback, and many women are choosing for comfort. There are a great number of lovely designs out there; keeping in mind that simple is best.

 

Bags and Briefcases

Yes, the workingwomen of today are emancipated! That does not mean we have to always carry a briefcase though. Luckily we live in times with a great variety of handbags. They come in all sized and compartments possible. You know best how much you need to carry on a daily basis. Color and material should be in unison with your shoes, scarf, belt, or blouse. That shows that you spent thought on your outfit and care about your appearance.

Hosiery

In a business environment women should wear tights when wearing skirts. A nude colour is often the best choice, however, depending on the outfit and season, there are endless options of colour, design and texture.  An added bonus of good quality hosiery is that they help “correcting” those little female problem areas (if you have any that is). Tights come in different stretch and support proportions. The higher the DEN part of a pantyhose the more support it will give you. Medically seen it is good for your legs and the flow of your blood. So even more reason to opt for a skirt suit!

 

Looking professional is the essence of wearing a business suit, but your personal style does not need to go entirely lost. Choose your accessories wisely, and look and feel great at work!

 

Tags: Business suits for women, Career clothing, what to wear to work, how to build a professional wardrobe, work wardrobe

 

 

The revolving doors start turning and in walks a short humpy old man. Round glasses with a thick black frame decorate his face, and almost hide the sympathetic wrinkles around his eyes. He fumbles with the belt on his beige trench coat. He walks with confidence and haste, like a homage to 60s Hollywood. People greet him here and there until he is out of sight. Another person enters, a slender and tall woman. Her golden hair is tied back in a tight knot, not one strand of hair loose. Walking securely, in her timeless black suit she makes people around her feel small. She stops and takes out her Blackberry, and continues to the elevator. A much smaller and well-fed lady accompanies her. They exchange a few words. 5 seconds pass until the tall woman turns around and looks at me.

Her serious face puts on a smile. I quickly stand up to greet her. She tells me that I am early and that she will send for me in 30 minutes. 

What to do, but sit back down. Another 30 minutes to endure. I take out my notebook in an attempt to write. All I can think of is how uncomfortable I feel in my selected business clothes. Dressed in grey heavy materials on a sunny day in March. What was I thinking getting dressed this morning? Did I give it enough thought at all? The fit is off, and my shoes scream “comfort” more than anything else. I feel silly. Today was supposed to be a corner stone in getting my career started. I prepared all my paperwork; I researched the company’s history and know the names of all the important people. Yet I feel like I did not do my research about “what they wear to work” well enough. My knowledge seems to be hiding behind my outfit. As silly as it might sound, I wish I had opted for a classical appearance today.

15 minutes passed. 

People walk in, greet and take the stairs or the elevator. Not everyone looking as proper as my brief contact. That knowledge gives me some comfort, besides the fact that these people already work here. I try to concentrate on the things that make me relax.  The sun is still shining, time is still passing, and I already had a new learning experience today. I love learning experiences; because I know that next time I face a situation like this I will spend time thinking about WHAT TO WEAR TO A JOB INTERVIEW!

 

These are suggestions I would opt for next time (and no, I do not know if I got the job or not…still waiting)

Tags: Business suits for women, Career clothing, what to wear to work, how to build a professional wardrobe, work wardrobe