Business Etiquette: Negotiating Your Career with Grace - Janet S. Sherman, founder of Executive Manners, a company providing business etiquette and protocol training for professionals.

Ms Sherman presented a thoughtful discussion about the applications of proper etiquette in business settings. The topics ranged from social events to general dos and don’ts of proper behavior.

Why is etiquette important? It creates a level playing field for all members of the event or conversation. The “rules” may appear stuffy and capable of stifling individual expression, but they really are intended to help make other people comfortable and confident with each other. The more familiar you are with the correct way to handle a situation, the less you will feel anxious or uncomfortable in a new or unusual setting and the more able to focus on the business at hand.

Business Related Social Events: 75% of adults experience anxiety before social events with strangers; 40% of adults experience anxiety before events with friends.

During the talk, tips to eliminate this anxiety were discussed. Social situations may bring up concerns that others will judge you, but the studies show that people are more concerned with being judged themselves than they are about you.

Awkward pauses-- a great tip for eliminating the awkward silence in conversation is to do a computer search about the latest movies, news, or the event itself. This will prepare you with short comments to make during pauses in a conversation.

Contentious issues or people?-- When difficult topics come up such as politics or religion, avoid making assumptions, generalizations or inflammatory remarks. Express yourself calmly with neutral statements and allow that others will have opinions as well. A question was asked on how to handle a person who makes offensive remarks in a social setting. Answer: Calm the situation by asking questions rather than firing back with a counterpoint. A willingness to listen to the point rather than getting involved with the emotions behind the statement will also help to calm the situation.

Cultural Differences-- To be successful in a global market and community social settings you must have a working knowledge of different cultural norms. Some cultures do not stand close during conversations, others view argumentative discussions as a sign of respect for the opinion of others. Be aware of these differences in order to limit your offense to others and to help you to understand what is normal in social settings to limit your taking offense as well.

This meeting provided an excellent primer on social etiquette; the participants were encouraged to pursue further information through the many books available on cultural differences and business etiquette.

• Don't criticize or trash your competition to anyone. What you don't say can make a powerful statement about your personal dignity.

Story by Sandy Hilton

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, June 6, 2006 Your Personal Image, Dressing to Impress on a Budget with Mia Milton

When starting a new business, finances are a major concern. There is not always a lot left over to spend on clothes, yet appearance is important. Mia’s talk will focus on basic wardrobe pieces available at discount or consignment stores that can help you build an appropriate wardrobe for the business environment. Her innovative approach will inspire. Leave with practical and empowering information that will help you make wiser clothing choices. Mia currently works at the Detroit Institute of Art. She is a graduate of the WISE Business Planning Institute at the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development.

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, July 11, 2006
This is a fun evening of networking; a great opportunity to invite new members. We'll have a round of golf, beginning at 1:00 (cost $35 to be paid to Lake Forest) followed by casual networking and food provided by Simply Scrumptious. Feel free to attend all or part of the meeting.

1st WBO Annual Golf Outing, Tuesday, July 11 at Lake Forest, 1:00. Cost: $35 to Lake Forest.

Fall Wine Tour, Sunday, October 8, 2006

Breakout Marketing Group is presenting "Women's Days of Pampering," June 6 - Westin Hotel in Southfield. 4-9 pm

Created to bring Wealth, Health, Beauty, Fitness and Personal Development information and products to women while educating them about the silent killer-- stress. Identifying and acting to control stress will help one live a happier and fulfilling life now and into the future.
    If you have the appropriate product or service, you can get a vendor table for $150, or attend for $10
    For registration forms and to learn more, see the site.

Golf Clinic, Tuesday, June 6 at Lake Forest, 5:00-6:30. Cost $20

The Michigan Brewers’ Guild Summer Festival, July 21-22, Riverside Park in Ypsilanti, is seeking non-profit partners to provide volunteer services in exchange for a financial contribution. If you represent a non-profit organization, this is for you!
    The Guild has not yet finalized appropriate donation amounts for the various services but will work with interested organizations on a one-on-one basis to come up with a mutually beneficial compensation arrangement.
    Services/volunteers needed for: Festival Set-up and Tear-Down, Daily Clean-up, Table Stewards, Beer Pourers. Training will be provided where necessary. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity, please contact Rene Greff at rene@arborbrewing.com or at 480-2739.

The Women Business Owners of Southeastern Michigan is a member of the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Chambers of Commerce. Our agreement with them allows our members to participate in meetings and events at member prices.
    In forming the strategic alliances with the Chambers, WBO's intent is to offer an opportunity to our members to attend Chamber events to determine the value and benefit of the Chamber to them, and to provide the opportunity for them to promote their business's products and/or services without incurring the higer expense of a full Chamber membership. We provide an affordable method for our members to do their due dilligence about the value of Chamber membership with minimal cost.
    Individual WBO members do not become members of the Chamber, the organization is. Our members do not participate in discount programs or member owner/employee plans offered by the Chambers.

Over 200 million people in the US were on the web last year. 70% of users used the Internet as an information source. 67% of users purchased over the internet-- over $200 billion worth. The internet influenced 50% of offline sales. Make sure you capture your share!

Hillary has been working with the Internet and creating websites for more than 12 years, starting when the web was in “black & white.” Hillary spent even more years working with people and their information needs as a corporate librarian. She got her Masters in Library Science from UM in 1976 and has been working with information organization and delivery ever since.

From initial concept to web design and development to internet marketing and website promotion, TLCI understands and provides you with everything you need to create a successful website. From understanding your goals to finished site or just web maintenance, revamping, or updates, TLCI helps you promote your business.

And Hillary believes an effective site does not need to be costly; simple sites can convey the same information as costly sites as long as they are done right. On the web, simplicity is functional, AND it's good design. Your pages need to WORK to present your information, not distract your customers. Today's Internet users are not browsers, they are looking for something specific- a piece of information, a good or service they want to acquire. You have 5 seconds to make an impression or your customer will go to the next site on the list.

Your site's look, feel and content should work together to capture your viewer's attention with:
-Site design and colors that enhance the viewer's experience
-A Home page that succinctly identifies the site's purpose and arouses interest
-Site navigation that does not allow the viewer to get lost
-Optimization to increase your chances to be found by search engines.

How do you attract customers to your site? As an "old" librarian Hillary understands search engine requirements and logistics. Search engines index content, index meta tags, track hits, track links to your site. This combination can be powerful if you understand what is needed and how to provide the best “encouragement” for search engine review. TLCI can do this with you and for you. Newsletters, like this one, are an effective means to stay in contact with your customers while increasing hits on your site and so increasing your site ranking.

Customer comments on TLCI work:
Search Engine Optimization:
“I dropped my YellowPage ads, your site was so effective.”
“I got called by MTV. Know how they found me? they Googled me!”
About my designs
“I could cry; you so get it!”
“You’re an artist”
And the ones I really like:
“My customer/associates liked my website so much, they wanted your name to contact you to redo theirs.”

So, contact TLCI at 734-662-0154 to talk to Hillary about website development, review, search engine optimization, free and paid promotion, E-Newsletters, blogs or other web related needs.

Andrea Blome issued the Business Challenge this month. Change is inevitable for people and business

Envision something new for your business this year-- a new product, new direction, new service. What will make you standout. Talk to customers to see what their needs are NOW, and see what you can do to meet or exceed them.

Nikki Briggs, Independent Consultant, The Body Shop
Ann Casale
Margaret Crandall, Indigo Advantage

TLCI, Website Design, Development, Consulting, SEO, Marketing, 12% off, 662-0154
Healing in Motion, JB Myofascial Release, 25% off, 913-4816
Helping Hands Computer Solutions, Computer and Business Support, 10% off, 995-6875
Contours Express, Women's Fitness, $100 off, 327-2800
Cafe Marie of Ann Arbor, Breakfast/Lunch Cafe, 20% off, 662-2272
Ann Arbor Diet Center, Personalized Weight Loss Services, 10% off, 327-2800
University Bank, Banking/Insurance, 1 year free membership, 741-5858