Many of us spend more time at work than at home, so it’s really important to have fulfilling relationships both with colleagues and customers. Bring Your Manners to Work Day was created to remind people of the importance of treating people with courtesy and respect in the workplace.

From finding the right talent to knowing what roles are crucial to fill, team building is one of the most crucial components of any successful organization. Finding the proper balance of personalities and positions can truly differentiate your company with a dream team of superior workers. But whether you own or work for a private or publicly held company, one of the most important members on your team may be someone you have never even considered—a protocol officer.

PSOW Graduate Marcel Kristel won our National Business Etiquette Week “Win a Day with Pamela Eyring” Alumni Contest. As the winner, Marcel has chosen for Pamela to provide a 60-minute presentation and Q&A session on September 15 with the students in the UC Berkeley College of Engineering. A 2014 graduate of PSOW, Marcel’s entry was a letter written to his Gran providing her etiquette tips to transition into this modern world including dining, mobile devices, e-mail and social media.

"When it comes to your business and your brand, are you doing everything to ensure the most positive, proactive and polished image possible? The best businesses leave nothing to chance when it comes to brand management and no detail is too small to ignore or to leave to chance. From defining a mission statement that clearly and succinctly projects your company values to managing all matters of marketing for total image management, your brand defines who and what you are."

"Do you eat with that mouth?"

Meet Brooke Peterson -- our winner of National Business Etiquette Week's "What will business etiquette look like in 2025?" video contest. As the winner, she received a complimentary tuition to our 5-day Train to be a Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant course.

Chris Yu, a Human Resources Manager in the Toronto office of TD Bank, first heard of The Protocol School of Washington when alumni Natalie Gokchenian made a presentation to officers at his bank. Chris was so impressed with the curriculum, he asked Natalie to present again to his HR staff. He then became even more interested in the PSOW, ultimately entering and winning the 2014 video challenge for a complimentary tuition to the “Train to be a Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant” course, graduating in September 2014.

According to "Happiness at Work" by author Jessica Pryce-Jones, American workers spend an average of 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime.

In the world of business, networking is everything. Among the most valuable venues for networking are social functions, including after-hours business cocktail parties, lunches and receptions. These events may often seem frivolous but in fact they provide opportunities for meeting new colleagues, establishing relationships and an opportunity to make a memorable first impression. Beyond mastering the art of small talk, the key to success at these events is knowing how to work a room.

In honor of last month’s National Protocol Officer Week, PSOW sponsored a “Superhero Moment” contest where entrants were asked how they used their protocol expertise in a particular job or setting. After reviewing entries from around the world, we have selected Olivera Tatalovic as our 2015 winner, receiving a complimentary tuition to a scheduled 2015 Protocol Officer Training program.

Employers plan to hire 8.3 percent more new college graduates from the Class of 2015 for their U.S. operations than they did from the Class of 2014, according to a recent jobs outlook report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

1. I can manage two sets of dining manners – private and public;

This article shows the danger of not taking the time to research local customs. What is remarkable is this was a British Minister who really should have known better.

According to a fall 2014 report from the U.S. Department of Labor, more American workers are on the move than ever before. The report states that 2.8 million people quit their jobs last September—the highest number since April of 2008. In addition, another 1.6 million workers left their jobs due to layoffs and terminations. That means nearly 4.5 million workers were faced with a very important question—what is the best way to leave a job?

According to the 25th annual survey of corporate America’s holiday party plans, 96 percent of U.S. companies will host holiday parties this year, the highest percentage since 1997. Alcohol will be served at 72 percent of holiday parties and nearly a third of employees will behave badly.

Meet Chris Yu, winner of the National Business Etiquette Week contest. Graduation Date: September 30, 2014

According to James Uleman, PhD, a psychology professor at New York University and researcher on impression management, “In spite of the congeniality of many professional gatherings, judgments are being made and impressions formed at all times.”

THE PROTOCOL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON: DAY FIVE September 30, 2014 Today I graduated from The Protocol School of Washington’s Train to be a Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant course!

THE PROTOCOL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON: DAY FOUR September 29, 2014 Today I attended SpeakersTrainingCamp taught by Sue Gaulke. Sue really embodies what she teaches: engaging, effective public speaking. We learned that there are different times throughout the day when we present ourselves to others, for example when leading a meeting, conducting training and in everyday informal situations. We learned that audiences prefer enthusiasm and passion in a speaker and they dislike a monotone voice.

THE PROTOCOL SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON: DAY THREE September 28, 2014 Today I learned to Dine Like a Diplomat. Our tutorial luncheon featured a six-course meal including a soup, fish, sorbet, meat, salad, toasting, dessert, and then finger bowl, each with accompanying beverages. The food was delicious and beautifully plated and served. This was my first experience with a finger bowl, and what I discovered is that once you know how to use a finger bowl, they are really not intimidating.