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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

Being a temporary legal professional is hard work. Anyone who has ever done it, myself included, will tell you that. Consider that as the perpetual new kid on the block (be prepared for your new workplace nickname - "The Temp") you are constantly under scrutiny: every interaction is an interview and every assignment is a potential referendum on your abilities.  Your skills are often underutilized because no one cares that you have a law degree or that you are an e-discovery w