Observer and Eccentric Birmingham: Meet a real-life Miss Manners
Poise, polish and presence – those are the keys to climbing the corporate ladder.
And the best way to climb those steps is by working with a certified etiquette instructor like Birmingham’s Danielle Kovachevich. Pardon the cliché, but Kovachevich is a real-life Miss Manners.
"Contrary to popular belief, office etiquette is not extinct," Kovachevich said. "It has only evolved."
The former school teacher is certified in etiquette instruction by The Etiquette Institute of St. Louis. She joined Bluestone Executive Communications last December. The Birmingham-based company specializes in helping corporate leaders deliver a message with impact.
“We often work with the CEO, the CFO, the company president or other very high-level executives,” Bluestone president Christina McKenna said. “Companies also bring us in to work with the entire organization, helping to cultivate a culture of excellence. We’ve worked with top executives at General Motors, Magna, La-Z-Boy and Shinola.”
Here’s what Kovachevich has to say about good manners in the workplace:
Q: Where do you start with a client?
Kovachevich: It depends on whether we’re doing a group training to elevate the culture across an entire department or organization or one-on-one coaching to help one executive fine-tune his or her “professional brand.” For groups, we ask the supervisor what they think is working and what is not. With individuals, we ask their professional goals and what they see as the behavioral obstacles to those goals. They’re not always the best at identifying their liabilities, but it’s a starting point.
Q: How much does it cost for these services?
Kovachevich: I’m not prepared to talk about pricing here … that wouldn’t be polite, would it? But I can tell you this: When our clients add up all the money they spend getting key meetings, preparing for key meetings, flying to key meetings and actually meeting, they realize they cannot afford to blow it once they’re in the room. They quickly see our programs pay for themselves.
Q: What about online etiquette?
Kovachevich: This is a huge issue and our biggest area of interest right now. The work world is increasingly digital, but digital communication is very easily misunderstood and that can lead to all sorts of hurt feelings and other trouble. One of our highest demand programs is Email Etiquette. Email is not new, but we’re getting worse, not better, at using it effectively. We’ve becoming increasingly casual on our communication and that doesn’t always read well on a screen. Brevity is fine, so long as the tone is friendly and professional.
Q: Any advice on using cellphones in the office?
Kovachevich: What we’re finding is that people tend to be too casual with their cellphones, when they need to keep it more professional. Being on a cellphone, especially during a meeting, is sending a message to co-workers and supervisors that your work isn’t important to you. Put it away and make the people and job a priority.
Q: What’s the most common faux pas?
Kovachevich: The most common misstep is putting oneself before others. Manners are a sensitivity and awareness of how we make people feel. Etiquette is not about being perfect or uptight. It simply defines the rules and guidelines of how we should handle social and professional situations. So long as we’re being kind, respectful and considerate, we’re usually on solid ground.
But if you’re looking for one specific example, here’s one that’s especially relevant in the Michigan winter. While it’s OK to wipe your nose at the table, step away from the table if you need to blow your nose. Also, if you must sneeze or cough, do so into the crook of your arm, not your hand, which your dining partner will likely have to shake at the end of the meal.
Q: Is it ever OK to be rude to someone?
Kovachevich: Never! I think you take the higher road – ultimately what can someone say when you come back with a kind remark? I think it's definitely OK to be direct in a situation, but there’s always a way to handle it with grace and class that serves you and the people around you.
Article Credit:
https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/birmingham/2017/01/26/meet-real-life-miss-manners/97012514/
