Corporate Protocol International

27/10/2024

Dress Code for the Spring Racing Carnival
Almost more important that the horses are the fashions on the field. There are best dressed competitions for both men and women and fashion photographers everywhere.
There are, however, some rules that need to be followed.
If you are going to the Members’ Enclosure at any of the Sydney venues for following guidelines should help:
For men: either a suit, a sport coat or blazer and tie. However, during daylight saving coats need not be worn.
For women: ladies are expected to maintain a suitable standard in keeping with the dignity of the Members’ Enclosure.
If you are going into the general admission area the requirement is to be neatly dressed. Shoes and a shirt must be worn at all times.
If you are going to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup Carnival you need to be aware of the dress codes for each of the race days.
On Derby Day it is traditional for men to wear a morning suit – morning coat, waistcoat, trousers and top hat. However, a smartly tailored lounge suit worn with a monochromatic shirt and accessories is also a good look. For women, black and white attire is traditionally worn on this day. It can be either all black, all white or a combination of the two colours.
On Melbourne Cup Day the look should be celebrated with race day fashion that captures the carnival atmosphere. Bold designs and, for the ladies, striking colours, with the ensemble topped by a statement hat are the order of the day.
Oaks Day is the ultimate style day for ladies’ fashions. Considered the most glamorous day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Oaks Day calls for gloriously feminine styling and spectacular details.
The final day of the Carnival is Stakes Day. This is a family oriented garden party atmosphere with the children also having the chance to share in the fun and they even have a Fashions on the Field competition for the children.
You can’t be seen twice in the same outfit when going to the Carnival no matter whether it is Sydney or Melbourne so it is a great excuse for buying a whole new wardrobe with gorgeous accessories to match each outfit. If you are extremely creative, you can even make your own.
There are a few no, no’s for the entire Carnival whether in Sydney or Melbourne.
For gentlemen if you are in the Members’ Enclosure, any form of sports shoe or thongs, non-tailored slacks, open neck shirts and shirts without a collar, baseball caps or beanies and football tops are not permitted.
For ladies if you are in the Members’ Enclosure, shorts, jeans, leather pants, garments that show midriff, leather jackets, jumpsuits or brief clothing are not permitted.
The drink of choice at all the race meetings is French champagne. So if you are going at any or all of the events, have a wonderful time.

15/10/2024

Posture, body language and respecting personal space can have big impacts on how we connect with and are received by other people.

The way we hold ourselves, the gestures and expressions we make, and the way we occupy shared space with others will all contribute to other people’s experiences with us and impressions of us.

How we hold our bodies can signal to others whether we are approachable or not, friend, or foe, and it can signal how receptive we are to the other person. Crossed arms, a furrowed brow, a clenched jaw, and pursed lips are not welcoming.

However, a relaxed and friendly posture and body language will signal that we are at ease in the environment and possibly even approachable. Hold your back upright with your chin parallel to the ground. Direct your attention to the person you are speaking with by facing them.

Gestures are part of our body language and add so much to conversation. However, they shouldn’t get so exuberant that you accidentally hit something or someone.

How close to or far away from someone do you stand when speaking with others? To be polite in everyday conversations and when waiting in lines or at a counter paying for something, we want to think about how closely we’re standing to others. This means keeping about 45cms between you and either the person you’re speaking with, others around you, or when in a line.

Avoid leaning in too far in during conversations, and don’t put your hands on the other person unless it is someone you are close to such as family members or friends.

Keeping too far away (more than one meter) can send signals that you want to keep your distance. This could make the other person wonder if you are worried a

02/10/2024

05/09/2024

Neighbourly Manners
Neighbourly manners are important. After all, you live in close proximity to each other.
Neighbourly manners can help you establish and maintain good relationships whether you become friends or keep a polite distance.
• Neighbourly manners dictate you greet each other whenever you pass by. A smile, a wave, and a pleasant "hello" are probably the easiest ways to acknowledge your neighbours. Think of these greetings as a great foundational block for good neighbour relationships.
• Have an occasional chat. There's a lot you can learn through casual chit-chat. However, be aware of how long your conversation has gone on and look for clues that your neighbour needs to get back to their day. If you don't see signs, keep enjoying the conversation!
• Call or text ahead before visiting. Call or text before heading over and ask if it's convenient for you to stop by. Be prepared for your neighbour to say they are busy and can't see you.
• Limit visits to a reasonable amount of time. For a drop-by visit, be attuned to what your neighbours are doing, and leave at the first hint that they're ready for the visit to end.
• Be considerate with chores and activities. We are all entitled to do our chores and tend to our homes, gardens and balconies. But some chores and activities are noisy or will impact others. It's best to be observant of when our activities might intrude on others' enjoyment of their time at home. As best you can, communicate with your neighbours about loud chores, activities, and events so that, at the very least, they are aware.
• Don't take advantage of a neighbour's expertise or talent. Living on the same street as a doctor, solicitor, mechanic, handyman, or anyone with special skills doesn't entitle you to ask for free consultations or services.
• Say thanks for any favours. Always say "Thank you" and be willing to return a favour.
• Be respectful of privacy. It can take some effort not to eavesdrop when living in close quarters. Never repeat what you accidentally overhear. Once you realise it's personal, try to find a way to distract yourself or remove yourself from earshot.
• Be respectful of property. Always ask for permission before entering anyone's property.

19/08/2024

Office etiquette training post COVID is more essential than ever before. Employees are struggling with appropriate conversations skills and dressing to name just two areas where there is a problem.
And now with the government requiring its employees attend the office on most days, a lack of office etiquette is really showing.

In addition to experienced employees having to readjust to in-person work, newcomers to the job market seem to be having a hard time adjusting after years of COVID-related disruptions. Some colleges and companies are even offering courses on professionalism to Gen Z workers and new college grads to try to bridge the gap.

ResumeBuilder.com surveyed 1,548 business leaders.
Key findings:
45% of companies are currently offering etiquette classes; 18% will implement by 2024
Of those currently offering classes, two-thirds say they have been highly successful
10% of those currently or planning to offer classes say the training will be required for Gen Z and new college grads; 60% will require training for all employees
Business leaders believe Gen Z workers struggle with soft skills
Office etiquette training post COVID is vital, not only for newbies but for everyone on the team, says Mike Chappell, Co-Founder and CEO of FormsPal. It fosters a respectful, collaborative work environment. With the pandemic, the shift to remote work definitely threw a curveball, and we did see the need to tweak our etiquette training. Virtual etiquette like being mindful of time zones, managing video call fatigue, and effective online communication became crucial.

When respondents were asked why their company has decided to offer these classes, write-in responses included:

The younger employees needed help with general office etiquette.
There is a lot of miscommunication on what is appropriate for the office, so implementing a plan and executing it will put everyone on the same page.
Some staff started wearing very casual clothes to work that were just not professional in appearance.
There were increasing complaints of a hostile work environment and complaints from patrons about the behaviour of certain employees.
We made the decision to implement these courses because we’re starting to interact with clients on a more regular basis.

11/07/2024

The afternoon tea was invented by one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting.

The Food
Sandwiches: Always eat with your fingers - never cutlery.
Next comes the scones. jam or cream first? Either is fine. Use ramekins with a communal spoon in each for serving, drop a serving onto your plate (never directly onto the scone), and smear one half of the scone at a time with your own knife.After the scones comes the patisserie.

Setting the Table (never “laying” the table)
Tablecloths should be crisp white linen
Place serviettes in the centre in line with the guest's chair.
Cake forks should be set on the right

Your Teacup
The correct way to hold a teacup is to pinch the handle with the index finger and thumb pressing the handle.Never wrap both your hands around the teacup.Pour the tea into the cup first, and milk second (the reverse applies only to the servant's quarters). Stir back and forth, not round and round.'

Afternoon Tea or High Tea
Afternoon tea is a light meal traditionally served around 4-5pm. High tea features dishes such as sliced meats, and even lobster and cheese soufflés.

The term "high tea" originates from the taller tables it was served on, distinct from the lower coffee tables associated with afternoon tea, rather than implying a higher level of grandeur.

06/07/2024

How to eat chocolate on World Chocolate Day: any way you like.

26/06/2024

Readying for the State banquet at Buckingham Palace for the Emperor and Empress of Japan. If you would like to learn to dine in style, contact me: www/https:collegeofetiquette.com

15/06/2024

Welcome back to public life Princess Katherine

15/06/2024

Congratulations to King Charles on your Birthday celebration

12/06/2024

Following is a wonderful list of negative body language by Debrett's of London

BORED
Slouching
Head downcast or propped on elbow
Loss of eye contact
Staring into space

NERVOUS
Fidgeting
Lack of eye contact or frequent blinking
Picking or biting nails
Playing with hair

ARROGANT
Standing or sitting with legs apart
Hands in pockets
Leaning backwards with chin tilted upwards
Emphatic pointing
Supercilious smile

DEFENSIVE
Folded arms
Sitting or standing at an oblique angle
Fixed or tense expression
Grimaces or eye rolling

10/06/2024

Dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris last week hosted by Emmanuel Macron and his wife for Joe Biden and his wife.