A
Message from Chamber President Rick Aschieris:
Going Beyond the Basic
[RETURN
TO CHAMBER HOME PAGE]
SEPTEMBER
2007 - Did you know that one of the members of our chamber is
the “Miss Manners” of Stockton?
For the last five years, Mary Claire Attebery’s firm “Beyond
Please and Thank You” has been hired by a variety of businesses,
professionals, families and educators interested in reintroducing
positive social skills to their personal and professional lives.
“In the fast pace of society, we have generally become less
aware of basic social skills in a world of instant gratification,”
according to Attebery.
Attebery
believes that social skills have an effect on important areas of
business -- such as customer service.
Attebery starts with laying the basic foundation for a business
client and then builds upon those basics.
“Many
businesses have forgotten that customer service is for the needs of the
client not the convenience of the business owner,” Attebery says.
Some
of Attebery’s clients are business owners or executives who are
seeking to instill a basic level of professionalism in their employees
and are very focused on how their company is perceived in the community.
Attebery maintains there should be some thought given to how and
when to hand out business cards, eye contact, the proper placement of
name tags, and shaking hands. (I hate it when I get a “fish” for a
handshake!)
Attebery
maintains that how employees present themselves at something as basic as
a trade show or a mixer can make a difference.
“It’s not just about how you staff the booth, but also how
you go about visiting a booth,” according to Attebery.
Attebery
has also offered individual help to many young emerging executives or
professionals in the area who are interested in improving their dining
skills and the art of business conversation.
“That can set you apart from other executives or professionals
in competition for business” she says.
“Eighty percent of business is done over meals these days, and
others notice how you handle food and that can reflect on how you handle
your business.”
Ready
For Some Quick Tips From Ms. Mary Claire Attebery?
Mary
Claire Attebery’s friendly basics for meals:
Salad is the worst to order (too noisy when eaten); stay away
from pasta and buffalo wings; don’t push food with your finger;
careful with the dinner roll; a used knife goes to the top of your plate
(to avoid bumping off the table); never host a two-hour cocktail party
prior to wine with dinner (30 to 45 minutes will do); allow the dinner
host to initiate business discussions; both American and Continental
styles of eating are OK; and don’t cut more than one piece of meat at
a time, “Cutting three or four pieces at a time is for babies,”
Attebery says.
Greater
Stockton Chamber of Commerce member Ms. Mary Claire Attebery of
“Beyond Please and Thank You” can be contacted by telephone at:
209.476.1615 or by e-mail at: mattebery@comcast.net
|
