Stop telling yourself that you don’t remember names, and start telling yourself “I’m good at remembering names.” This statement, repeated often enough, can counteract any negative message about not remembering names.

As extraordinarily successful as women have been in reaching new heights in today’s workplace, we still have work to do. The Council of Economic Advisers 2014 report shows that females earn 78 cents for every dollar made by their male counterparts. Many upper echelons are male-dominated with 4.4% of the S&P 500 CEOs being women, and only 19% of those companies’ boards comprise women, according to Catalyst. Suppressed feelings of frustration and self-doubt are simmering amongst female talent who believe their career potential is not being recognized or rewarded. Heightened awareness of some business etiquette strategies that can be fluidly employed at the precise time in a range of business situations can help women get noticed for advancement opportunities.

While you should be judged by your innate worth, it is often a first impression that determines whether someone will take the time to let you reveal it. No doubt wardrobe plays an important role in appearance, but it's often personal grooming (and hygiene) that make the biggest impression.

When it comes to happiness in the workplace, all you really need is love. Not that the Beatles are the greatest example of getting along with coworkers, but a 2015 study from management experts at Wharton and George Mason University finds that a loving workplace is the key to employee engagement and happiness. In a survey of 3,201 employees in seven different industries—from financial services to real estate—expressed the importance of an affectionate, compassionate, caring work culture in making people more satisfied with their jobs and committed to their organization.

Well, not really. But, in honor of Australia Day (January 26), the HQ office participated in making dishes native to Australia. We enjoyed Zucchini Slices, Shrimp on the Barbie and Bacon and Cheese Rolls. And, with the help of Global Road Warrior (an online digital subscription database packed with photos, maps and information on culture, customs and more on over 175 countries), we were able to even look up recipes and test them out. All were delicious!

The modes of interpretation is something most clients do not understand when making requests for their conferences. When requesting for interpretation services, it is valuable to understand exactly what is necessary for your specific engagement.

According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 86 percent of adult Americans said they planned to gather with family and friends during the holidays, and the same number say they planned to buy gifts for friends and family.

The Protocol School of Washington has been named one of the 20 best-performing small companies in South Carolina for 2015 by SC Biz News.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that on August 27th, “1 in 7 people on earth used Facebook to connect with their friends and family” -- which means about 1 billion people in a single day.

As an educational institution, The Protocol School of Washington is a strong advocate of change and evolution, knowing that our instruction and expert tutelage is helping change the lives of our students, who in turn help change the world. Embracing the global marketplace and understanding how to operate in it, we offer protocol and etiquette intelligence along with cross-cultural awareness to help make the world a more open and better place to do business.

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.