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Business Etiquette Class Offers Helpful Insight

Emily Glass gave many useful tips on etiquette for everyone.
Cindy Roller
/
Cooper Review

Recently former Mayor of Sulphur Springs Emily Glass provided a free business etiquette class at The Oaks Bed & Breakfast offering helpful insight to those in attendance. She explained etiquette is necessarily about what fork to use for which course but more about what is expected of us in any situation and knowing how to react.

“Etiquette helps us to help others,” said Glass. “Especially in business, it is very easy for us to lose a customer. It is very difficult to get that customer back after losing them. Making a customer feel appreciated can potentially be the difference.”

In doing so Glass made a confession.

“No way am I even remotely qualified to be Mayor of Sulphur Springs. However, I do feel like I am very respectful of others,” said Glass, who has been in many situations to which she relied heavily on her etiquette. “If you have etiquette, you definitely have an edge over your competition.”

She has been bringing Etiquette by Emily to this area for the last two years. She is published in the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram and aired on KSST 1230 AM radio as well as blogging on her own website etiquettebyemily.com.

She explains the reasoning behind etiquette leaning towards Southern Etiquette. She teaches etiquette classes to all ages. Glass said she especially enjoys the bridal show/tea/etiquette parties. She continued giving pointers on business etiquette.

“You are a brand of your company despite where you rank on the ladder,” added Glass. “We associate people with their work. That is just how our brains operate. How you represent yourself is reflective of your company.”

She has heard repeatedly that employers can teach a job but not social graces. She encourages to focus on: showing up on time and don’t be the person who has an excuse to leave early, handwriting thank you notes, dressing professionally, avoid chatting inappropriately at work, don’t criticize others in public, always introduce yourself, try to avoid using negative responses, remember to use “please” and “thank you,” face-to-face conversation trumps cell phone or telephone ringing, don’t breach e-mail etiquette by carbon copying another person into a conversation.

“Be very consistent is some of the best advice I can give,” said Glass, mainly addressing business owners. “Don’t talk badly about other businesses, and the customers are always considered more important.” Another key she added was that name tags should always go on the right side and only wear one from the organization or company being represented. Stand to shake hands to show respect.

She described the “new interview” as employers dining with potential employees. 

“This is to see your social graces and how you interact with others,” said Glass. “Always be prepared to pay, and you should offer. Always thank them for their generosity. Be sure to RSVP to an event, if requested.”

Glass invited local businesswoman Chaney Johnson to speak on social media etiquette.

Chaney Johnson shared social media courtesies that many, many people need to learn.
Credit Cindy Roller / Cooper Review
/
Cooper Review
Chaney Johnson shared social media courtesies that many, many people need to learn.

Chaney presented the ten big things about social media:

  1. Don’t mix business and pleasure.
  2. Use caution posting and tagging because everyone is looking at everything all the time.
  3. Be self-centered in small doses. 4-11 (for every post about yourself, post four that aren’t)
  4. A sense of humor is not universal
  5. Avoid social media altercations – it lasts on the internet forever
  6. Avoid over-sharing and making lengthy posts
  7. Be cautious and mindful of what you post
  8. Don’t misrepresent. Be honest
  9. Don’t drink and tweet and don’t vent and tweet. It is a slippery slope.
  10. Understand the usefulness of each platform of social media –  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. and answer questions as fast as you can

“Social media has a tremendous amount of power,” said Chaney Johnson. “When you upset someone, they don’t forget….When I go to a business page, I want to see all the information. I don’t want to see political or religious on a business page. Maintain a respectful attitude; assume you are speaking to someone’s grandmother.”
Delicious refreshments were served to the class.

Glass went on to describe The Oaks Bed & Breakfast. “They just really have blown me completely away with service. It is absolutely fantastic,” said Emily Glass. The establishment has rooms sponsored, noted, and decorated by different downtown businesses. Several businesses are hosting upcoming events. The unique twist is that The Oaks Bed & Breakfast ask for businesses to partner with other local businesses for their events. This truly supports the fabric of downtown working together.

On Thursday nights, The Oaks offers a reservation only for a multi-course meal. Call 903-919-5170 to make a special night. For more information find The Oaks Bed & Breakfast on Facebook or follow their blog online at: www.theoaksbandb.net.

New at The Oaks Bed & Breakfast will be Fall Cotillion.

“I am so excited to bring this class to Sulphur Springs. This is years in the making for me. Classes will be divided, based on age. Classes will be very limited to ensure maximum one-on-one time,” said Glass on her Facebook page. “They will run once a week for four weeks. Dates will be announced within the next two weeks. Make sure to get on the list if you want to reserve your spot! Due to small classes, I will work with parents and students to make sure the classes are on days they can attend. $75 per student (Discount for siblings. Ages are generally 10 through high school. Again, separated by age).”

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