Episode 556 - Congratulations, Graduates!
Your Awesome Etiquette podcast episode for the week. Plus, the weekly etiquette challenge, Monday joke, and an etiquette extra on respect at work.
On today’s show, we take your questions on whether to host a party for a college graduate, confusion over a very casual wedding, and etiquette around prescription sunglasses. For Community Members, your question of the week is about what to do when your mother-in-law invites extra guests to your wedding. Plus, your weekly challenge, an etiquette salute, and a postscript segment on graduation announcements.
Etiquette Extra - Respect at Work
Only 37% Of Employees Say They Are Treated With Respect At Work is the title of a new article in Business Insider by Edward Segal reporting on a recent Gallup Study showing respect in the workplace at an all-time low. Both the survey data and the linked write-up do an admirable job of describing the problem that a lack of respect in the workplace creates for everything from high-functioning teams to individual creativity. The costs of worker retention alone are staggering, but they are not the only impact on the bottom line.
From our perspective, behaviors rooted in consideration, respect, and honesty provide us with the potential to offer a real solution to this obvious and growing problem. Manners for the workplace, like those described in our new Business Etiquette book, offer practical approaches and applicable strategies to build colleague relationships and company cultures on a foundation of respect every day. While the challenges today’s professionals face are significant, the solutions are often found in the small actions we employ every day.
From the Gallup Study:
Engaged employees are surrounded by coworkers who listen to their opinions, recognize their hard work and care about their development. Not surprisingly, they feel respected. Gallup finds that when employees are engaged at work, they are five times more likely to strongly agree that they are treated with respect at work.
MAY 20TH is almost here!!! We got our advanced copies this weekend, and they look amazing!! Pre-orders for Emily Post’s Business Etiquette (a perfect graduation present) are available from our local independent bookstore, Bridgeside Books! Order yours today.
Weekly Awesome Etiquette Challenge
This week’s challenge is to… take a few deep breaths before entering a social setting. Try three. A physiological reset can transform the energy you bring to an encounter with others—relaxed, calm, focused, centered, patient. A few deep breaths can help you draw out these qualities in yourself. Let us know how it goes in the comments.
We hope you have a pleasant Monday and are looking forward to the week ahead. Working, traveling, hiking, biking, walking, golfing…? Let etiquette smooth the way wherever this week leads you. And remember, you can submit your next etiquette question or salute by emailing us at AE@emilypost.com.
See you Thursday.
All our best,
Daniel and Lizzie
Happy Monday Joke
How many storm troopers does it take to change a light-bulb?
None, they are all on the dark side.