What Would Emily Post Do?

When It Comes To Business Etiquette, Do You Make The Grade?

I frequently google around on etiquette topics to get a feel for what's out there, and last night's search gave me back this USA Today quiz on business etiquette. (Just turn off your volume first, it has annoying audio.)

It's a great quiz, asking lots of the questions that I am asked to cover when I lead business etiquette seminars. And they got all of the answers right! (I expected nothing less, but it's nice to these finer points hit so well.)

But, heh heh, I didn't get all the answers right (insert blush here). I got 14 out of 15, and I'll give you a leg up on the one I got wrong, as it taught me something new.

The question was, "What percentage of the message you communicate is conveyed through your visual appearance?" You could choose 30%, 55% or 75%, and never having heard these breakdowns before, I had to take a shot in the dark. I went for shock value and chose 75% (which would be scary if true).

Survey says: Incorrect! Phew. The answer is 55%, with this explanation: "This figure is from a study by Albert  Mehrabian , a professor of psychology at UCLA.  Your wardrobe should fit and be appropriate for the setting.  Pay attention to your body language, and don't forget to smile." I may have never heard this stat before, but as a professional etiquette expert, I couldn't agree more with the advice.

Wedding Registries Shift From Tiffany Blue To Eco Green

Poking around on one of my new favorite sites, Ideal Bite, a website dedicated to providing daily tips for living green, I found a post from about a year ago on green wedding registries. Their list is still pretty comprehensive; my research didn't pull up any new sites I'd add. It got me Googling, though, and I was also really impressed with an entry on green weddings from the Sierra Club's blog (jump to item nine for info on registries).

So, etiquette-wise, is it okay to have a green registry? Sure! It's a nice way to spread a little awareness and still get what you want, while also supporting manufacturers of eco-friendly items. Not a bad package! Just be aware that if a lot of the items you request are very untraditional, your great aunt may still send you a blender. The choice of gift, in the end, is always up to the giver.

Remember, too, that another way to be green is not to consume at all (eliminating CO2 emissions from product shipment, as well as the byproduct and waste of manufacturing and packaging). Requesting "no gifts, please" is one way to achieve this; another is to ask for donations to be made in your name to your favorite charity.

Last little piece of raw etiquette: mention of gifts or registries, even "no gifts, please," should NEVER be made anywhere on your wedding invitation. (Instead, inform your wedding party and your close friends and family about your registry, and spread the news by word of mouth.)

This isn't to make your life tough; it's to ensure that the focus of your invitation is on hoping that the recipients can attend and share in this day, not on their sending you a gift. There are few ironclad etiquette traditions left, but this is one, and I have to say, one I'm proud to stand behind as it keeps the focus on the people, not the things--a green concept if ever there was one.

Become an Official Fan of Emily Post!

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