Manners matter in world of business

(See below for correction.) Don't talk with your mouth full. Elbows off the table. Though most parents teach these common childhood lessons, Penn students about to enter the business world of nerve-racking interviews and formal luncheons may need just a little bit more by way of social etiquette. And Friday at La Terrasse, Nyman Group Consultant Lisa Hatcher delivered a workshop on this very topic -- social and business etiquette. Hatcher and The Nyman Group specialize in teaching powerful communication skills to businesses and university students across the country and found themselves at Penn as part of the Fox Leadership PowerSpeak series. "No one really enjoys formal business functions because it involves a little bit of acting," Hatcher admitted. "But you have to act to make people feel comfortable. Eventually, formality will become comfortable to you as well." And that it did. Role-playing played a crucial part in the workshop, as a dozen students got up to practice everything from the "power handshake" to how to formally introduce people in a business environment. Hatcher also covered good conversation starters, ways to exit a conversation graciously and tips to remember someone's name. "Concentration is the key ingredient in remembering names," she said. "Repeating the name out loud will also help." But should awkward circumstances still arise, Hatcher states that "a gracious smile will work in every situation... it makes [people] feel comfortable and at ease." Chuck Brutsche, associate director of the Fox Leadership Program, felt that the workshop really made students more aware of what is proper business behavior. "It's amazing how many students are not aware of social etiquette, and this workshop seemed to fill in the gaps," Brutsche said. Most students agreed with Brutsche and found their time at the workshop well-spent. "These topics are definitely useful because most people our age don't know [how] to handle themselves in formal situations," College junior Becky Shore said. "I could use a little bit of social etiquette -- It wouldn't hurt," added Richard Kramer, a College junior. "And the free lunch is a plus too." And he was right. After the two-hour workshop, students were able to apply their newly learned etiquette to something more tangible -- flame-broiled steaks and creme brule, that is. At the table, students took note of even the smallest details with Hatcher, like coughing at the table, reaching for the salt and pepper and even the direction from which to spoon soup. The answer, for all those etiquette amateurs: always spoon away from the body. "I think it was a great event, especially for some of the foreign students in the Penn community," said Fox Leadership Committee Member Erin O'Brien, who planned the event. "It enables them to enhance their etiquette and business skills that are necessary in the American culture setting." So after an interactive workshop and a gourmet meal, students walked away with a higher level of confidence and familiarity not only for the business world but everyday situations. College junior Alex Halpern said that she "thought that what we learned was very applicable to both social and business functions."

Correction

The photo captiong accompanying this article incorrectly notes that Nyman Group consultant Lisa Hatcher is pictured. In fact, she is not.

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