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QUESTION: Recently, Estrin Education received a communication from a reader expressing her discomfort when a coworker pats the head of a client’s child. MY RESPONSE: Our increasingly global society yields many benefits, one of which can be a greater understanding and appreciation for other cultures and customs. But what happens if a custom from your culture is prohibited in another? For many people, it can be surprising to learn that a behavior they associate with warmth an

Do you dread your annual office holiday party? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. Sixty-two percent of Americans say they would rather go to the dentist than attend an office holiday party. (Okay, I made that up, but it's believable, isn't it?) Anyway, you don't have to suffer. In fact, following a few simple tips can turn even the most tortuous event into a networking bonanza - and you might even have a bit of fun too. Dare to dream! 1. Have a Plan. You won't (thankfu

Keep your business cards clean and crease free by carrying them in a business card holder. Present your business card with the print facing the recipient so she won’t need to turn the card around to read it. Take the time to read a business card that has been presented to you, then carefully put it away in a respectful place. Never give or request a business card from someone who out ranks you. Don’t pass out your cards indiscriminately as this may make you look unprofessiona

Mrs. Obama’s arms get a lot of well-deserved attention: they are toned, yet feminine – what many women aspire to. However, Mrs. Obama’s famous arms were recently upstaged by her elbows when she rested them on the table at a luncheon. Oh the finger wagging and tongue clucking! You would have thought Mrs. Obama had clipped her toenails in public. Faux-rage gripped the internet’s manners police – our beloved First Lady had broken a cardinal rule of etiquette that we all learned

Questions: When inviting a client to a business meal, you should ask her where she would like to go. T / F In a typical place setting, the beverage is on the left and the bread plate is on the right. T / F A seafood or oyster fork is placed to the left of the place setting. T / F A guest should begin eating when her food is served. T / F It is okay to rest your smartphone on the table as long as it is on silent mode. T / F "Corked" wine means that the cork is stuck in the win

When I was a young professional, there were a few business dining dilemmas that always caused me to anxiously shift in my chair as I wondered what to do. These were situations that I hadn’t thought through because the answers seemed obvious. Oh, how I agonized. If only I could tell my younger self to lighten up – stuff happens! Based on my conversations with young professionals, these dilemmas - along with a surprising new one - are still causing worry. So, here they are, som