PSOW graduate, Omar Alvarez, provides insights into what makes a protocol officer the most valuable player on a team.

PSOW graduate, Kuniko Takamizu, shares her observations about what makes a protocol officer the most valuable player on a team.

Hear from PSOW graduate Wasim Ben Khadra about what makes a protocol professional the most valuable player on a team.

Hear from PSOW graduate, Mick Chiara, about what makes a protocol officer the most valuable player on a team.

Coronavirus 2020: Tips and Alternatives to Shaking HandsPamela Eyring, president of The Protocol School of Washington, provides some simple tips and alternatives to shaking hands in this short “how-to” video.

When it comes to the modern world of communication, there’s nothing as easy, direct and quick as sending a text. In fact, texting has become the preferred mode of communication for many people, with recent statistics showing that 80% of the total population of North America texts on a regular basis. That’s 292 million people sending messages, emoji’s and memes every single minute of the day.Just because everyone is doing it, does not mean they are doing it well. To help you become a better texter in both your personal and professional lives, follow these tips to help you enhance your text etiquette.

Direct eye contact is one of the most powerful ways to make a real connection with someone and it’s an important gesture for most any business professional to remember.

A primer on who deserves a year-end tip and how much you should give.

No matter what year it is, most people still agree that appearance does matter—especially when it comes to perceptions about professionalism.

Did you know President George H.W. Bush was the first president to pardon a turkey? It’s true…and since then, every president has pardoned one lucky turkey who escapes the oven and even goes on to live full lives at children’s farms and even as grand marshals in Disneyland’s Thanksgiving parade! Now those are some grateful birds! Here are some simple things we can all do this Thanksgiving to show our appreciation for those in our life.

Because there are subtle—and not-so-subtle differences in handshakes, it’s important to know what’s acceptable and not acceptable in foreign countries as well as knowing other traditional greetings in places you may be visiting or doing business.

In planning the perfect business dinner, most guests know that it’s not just important to have a seat at the table—it’s also about where you are seated at that table. Proper placement of guests is a vital component of any dinner event, especially when it has to do with a formal business occasion. When devising a seating chart, a host must take many things into consideration, including the position of honor, where to place international guests and details such as place cards and proper greetings. Knowing these finer points will help guests feel respected and held in high esteem and the host will be remembered for executing a most successful event.

Glossophobia –It’s the dreaded fear of public speaking – one of the scariest and most common phobias we all have – 75% of the population, in fact. First and foremost, think about the word presentation and, instead replace it with the word “conversation.” When we change our mindset of what we are doing, we automatically become more relaxed. Instead of thinking of performing, think of yourself as informing…. sharing some information that is useful to your given audience.Here are some other things to consider in enhancing your presentation skills:

“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care”- Theodore RooseveltI have long thought that our profession could benefit from a more sophisticated approach to the “Protocol Gift”.

Ways to celebrate your workplace superior and to ensure your gift of gratitude is one that is treasured and remembered for years to come.

Remember the last time you were talking on your phone at the dinner table—ignoring your guests—your elbows were firmly placed right beside your plate, and you laughed so hard your gum fell out of your mouth? Well, we have three words for you: LET’S STOP THAT! In our never-ending quest to spread the word on social etiquette and eradicate bad manners from our world, we have some gentle reminders on seven offensive behaviors that we all might want to erase from our lives.

No matter your station in this life, there is one thing that we all have in common—our humanity. And because we are all human, we’ve all experienced moments of imperfection, faux pas, and public embarrassment. But just like children learn after falling off their first bike, the most important thing is getting right back up and starting over again. So when it comes to some of life’s most embarrassing moments, don’t run and hide, take it like a woman (or man) with these solutions for a quick recovery.

Even though good manners cost absolutely nothing, using them can be one of your most valuable assets in the workforce. Having good manners and using them to guide your own behavior and your professional relationships sounds simple enough but often people underestimate the value of this personal commodity. Most important, good manners show you have respect for yourself, your coworkers and colleagues, as well as your office environment. #MannersCostNothing

As we once again lead up to the next election, we offer up some thoughts on how we can all work to enhance and improve political discourse—no matter what side of the aisle you sit on.

We offer up 10 more reasons to attend and be part of an incredible opportunity to meet, learn and network with others inspired to create professional relationships through cultural understanding, communication and respect!