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Not your grandmother’s etiquette

Hello and welcome to the Clise Etiquette blog, a place to discuss savvy and not so savvy decorum. Etiquette may sound like a stuffy or old-fashioned topic, but it’s really just about making yourself and others more comfortable by being respectful, kind and professional.

I am an etiquette consultant, speaker, trainer, coach and author of Spinach in Your Boss’s Teeth: Essential Etiquette for Professional Success. I share etiquette and protocol tips, stories and techniques that you can use to feel more confident, at ease and successful socially and in the workplace.

I invite you to share your thoughts and questions on the situations in life that confuse you, anger you, give you pause or make you proud. Please feel free to let me know if there are topics you’d like me to discuss or hear more about. Some of my best posts come from questions or stories readers share with me.

Thank you for stopping by. I invite you to subscribe to my blog by clicking on the green button.

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Five business travel dos and don’ts

By Arden | Apr 12, 2016 | Business Etiquette, Travel Etiquette | 2 Comments

Your company is sending you to a conference in some sunny place. Lucky you! If this is your first business trip you may feel you’ve hit the jackpot with the all-expense paid trip – airfare, hotel, a per diem. But before you zip up your bag, be sure you’ve packed not only your sunscreen, but…

Are business cards going away?

By Arden | Apr 2, 2016 | Business card etiquette, Business Etiquette, Sales etiquette | 1 Comment

Remember that business card app that would let you touch your phone to another person’s phone and your contact information would be exchanged? I remember a friend telling me about one called Bump and thinking, wow, what a great idea; except it no longer exists. In fact, of four apps that were tooted in a…

Setting a formal Easter table

By Arden | Mar 25, 2016 | Dining Etiquette

Spring is here! It’s my favorite time of year. I love the blooming flowers and trees and hearing the birds chirp and sing. I also love the longer days, especially here in dark, rainy Seattle. And, I love having a reason to get together with family to celebrate Easter. (Okay, and I admit I like…

Kinder, friendlier emails

By Arden | Mar 17, 2016 | Civility, Courtesy, Email etiquette

Have you ever received an email and thought, wow, that was abrupt? Or, maybe you received an email and thought the person sending it was upset with you. We can’t communicate tone of voice in emails, which is very important to help convey meaning.

Speaking tips from the Academy Awards

By Arden | Mar 2, 2016 | Public speaking | 1 Comment

Did you watch the Academy Awards this year? I thought it was a bit of snooze. Chris Rock had some funny moments – I loved the Girl Scouts cookie sales part – and some important messages about recognizing black films and those who make them. But, overall it wasn’t the most exciting Academy Awards show…

Step away from your phone

By Arden | Feb 19, 2016 | Cell phone etiquette, Civility, Communication, Courtesy, Wedding etiquette

Times are indeed changing due to our relationship with our digital tools. What once was impossible is now possible because of our smart phones. We no longer need to wait until we get back to our home or office to make a call, look something up online or send an email. Smartphones, as well as…

Sit in the power seats

By Arden | Feb 16, 2016 | Business Etiquette, Meeting etiquette

Have you ever sat in a meeting feeling invisible or like it was difficult to get the chair or facilitator’s attention? It could have been because of where you sat. There are three places at a meeting table that are more noticeable to the person running the meeting. Assuming the facilitator is sitting at place…

A verboten topic

By Arden | Jan 23, 2016 | Civility, Conversation, Courtesy, Kindness | 2 Comments

“So, do you have kids?” Have you ever asked someone this question? Such a seemingly innocuous question. But, it’s actually a very loaded, potentially painful topic. A few days ago I received this email from a newsletter reader.

A frightening epidemic

By Arden | Jan 15, 2016 | Courtesy, Party etiquette, Social Etiquette, Wedding etiquette | 2 Comments

There is an epidemic spreading in the Northwest. It’s infecting people right and left and it’s a doozy. Haven’t heard about it? You may already have this disease and not even know it. It’s the RSVPitis epidemic. I’m telling you, it’s bad news.

Setting attainable and enjoyable New Year’s resolutions

By Arden | Jan 4, 2016 | Cell phone etiquette, Civility, Courtesy, Kindness, Meeting etiquette

I’m not a big fan of making New Year’s resolutions because I find they are easy to break after a few weeks. The gym I belong to is a perfect example of this – hordes of new people fill the classes in January and by February most of them have disappeared. It can be hard…

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Not your grandmother’s etiquette

BLOG TOPICS

By Arden | Apr 12, 2016 | Business Etiquette, Travel Etiquette | 2 Comments

By Arden | Apr 2, 2016 | Business card etiquette, Business Etiquette, Sales etiquette | 1 Comment

By Arden | Mar 25, 2016 | Dining Etiquette

By Arden | Mar 17, 2016 | Civility, Courtesy, Email etiquette

By Arden | Mar 2, 2016 | Public speaking | 1 Comment

By Arden | Feb 19, 2016 | Cell phone etiquette, Civility, Communication, Courtesy, Wedding etiquette

By Arden | Feb 16, 2016 | Business Etiquette, Meeting etiquette

By Arden | Jan 23, 2016 | Civility, Conversation, Courtesy, Kindness | 2 Comments

By Arden | Jan 15, 2016 | Courtesy, Party etiquette, Social Etiquette, Wedding etiquette | 2 Comments

By Arden | Jan 4, 2016 | Cell phone etiquette, Civility, Courtesy, Kindness, Meeting etiquette

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Sign up for the award-winning Clise Etiquette newsletter and receive a free chapter of Arden's book Spinach in Your Boss's Teeth.