CREATE YOUR VIRTUAL PRESENCE: Effective meetings Dangling conversations (Gossip, Grapevine and jokes) and Realities of office

romance

1. Effective Meetings: In an organization, everyday employees will be blasted with committee meetings, department meetings, staff meetings, sales meetings and team meetings - the list will be endless. Meetings will connect people and communicate information in ways that technology cant but, sometimes, meetings can swallow time and zap the energy. In a company managers or executives or employees have to move from one country to another to attend or to conduct meetings to finalize or to sign the contracts. Companies in different countries follow different cultures, here one has to adapt himself to the culture that is followed by the company. For example- In Switzerland, a formal written notification is given 2 weeks in advance and a detail agenda is disseminated one week before at the stated time of meeting, everyone shows up early and the doors are locked one minute after the beginning of meeting, so late comers are not allowed in, pagers and cellphones are turned off. Always ends on time. Successful meetings are brief, focused and productive. They happen by design not by inadvertence. Professionalism helps to transform meetings from empty time wasters into creative events. Overly time meetings exhaust energies by extending stressful situations, lengthening detailed discussions. There are some rules to be followed while conducting or attending: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Start on time and end on time Provide a written agenda and stick to it Reserve the most comfortable and spacious conference Dont rush and dont interrupt Control your hand movements Keep facial expressions positive and attentive Turn off the cellphones Discuss but dont argue Sit with erect posture

10. Avoid simian behavior-generally seen in Apes and monkeys.

2. Dangling Conversations: Many people spread gossip and unpleasant rumors about their colleagues. This is not professional conduct. In business, as in life, if you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all. Generally whatever the news it would be, we would like to share it with friends or peers or colleagues, sharing our views with others helps to humanize the work and work place. In this case virtual offices fail, simply because there is no one to talk face to face, not being able to walk into another cubicle to share exciting news or sit down with a colleague and have a cup of coffee. On the other hand companies point to idle charter and water cooler gossip as one of the worst offenders that contribute to unproductive, wasted time. Grapevine: There is good news and bad news about the office grapevine. The bad news is that it is impossible to get rid of it, the good news is that this informal communications network is usually over 80% accurate. So listening to grapevine can help to uncover poor attitudes, know the real customer service complaints and a host of other problems. Generally in many companies, board of directors take mid-level managers out to lunch just to have a chat sessions. Research has determined that less than one percent of the population can keep secret. To avoid this one must not reveal too much about their personal matters, Knowing what to say when to say and to whom to say is an art. Personal issues to avoid with clients and colleagues: Details of a pending divorce, salary levels, illicit affairs etc Conversations in the office: Dos and Donts: Sports are usually an interesting topic of conversation. Cars and families and children are a great topic but only if coworkers have children too. You can ask coworkers about their plans for the weekend etc This avoids conflicts and maintains good relationship with coworkers.

3. Realities of office romance: Handling chemistry at the office is part of maintaining professionalism. Office romance is bound to happen at one time or another in every business persons career. Sometimes, affairs may affect their professional careers, like in smaller companies, office romances are tolerated, but the larger a company and the more established it is, the more it discourages romance between employees To be professional and to maintain good relationship with boss and colleagues, the office romance like late arrival in the morning, neglecting the work, longer lunch hours, frequent early exits etc., all these may not be tolerated by an organization, and the employees may be fired. Discussing someones love affair is more interesting than any other related to business. Hence it will create one kind of bad impression which badly affects their reputation. Hence I conclude by saying that, At first sight it would appear as if both love and marriage were beyond the rules of etiquette; but it is not so. In society we must conform to the usages of society, even in the tender emotions of the heart. But only thing is, one must not violate the rules, regulations and policies of a company, behaving within the rules and regulations shows or reflects perfect professionalism.

You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression, especially in today's hypercompetitive business world. That's why it's critical to project an image of confidence, ability, and integrity to everyone you deal with. In 5 Steps to Professional Presence, image consultants Susan Bixler and Lisa Scherrer Dugan show readers how to create a successful "professional presence" by paying attention to key areas such as: -- Virtual presence -- using high-tech communication tools like e-mail, video conferencing, and voice mail to project a winning image -- Nonverbal communication -- building rapport with colleagues and clients by developing strong nonverbal skills -- Social situations -- projecting a comfortable, professional image at business meals, conferences, and sales meetings With specific advice on how to develop a topnotch professional image, along with scores of examples from specific business situations, this book is a great resource for readers who feel the need to make a better impression at work.

What does this have to do with you? Well, if you've ever wondered why you don't seem to get the respect you deserve, the financial rewards you expect or recognition for your contribution, perhaps you have not positioned yourself as a professional. You need to establish your "professional presence". Where do you start? Here are three aspects of your working life in which you can make the necessary changes. ? Visibility Think of yourself and what you do as a product, and the people you work with as clients. Manufacturers keep their products and brands top of mind for their customers. In the same way, you need to make sure the right people understand your value to the organization. It's your responsibility to know what skills and talents you have to offer, and what value they create. Look for assignments and projects that will showcase your special abilities. Take any opportunity to talk about the company to senior people, and learn as much as you can about the company so that you can do so intelligently. Can you reasonably and logically introduce something about your own department or work into the big picture? Look out for creative ways to position yourself as a professional, whatever your job may be, so that the right people recognize your potential for upward movement and growth in the organization.

? Image It's said that we make up our minds about people within six seconds of meeting them. Obviously, these fast impressions are superficial, but if they are having such an immediate impact then surely it is worth managing them. When you go to work every day, what does your appearance say about you? The gradual loosening of the rules around how we dress for work has been welcomed by most, but many have shown lack of judgement in how they apply the new styles. What is "business casual" anyway? It's openness to interpretation is what causes the problem. A great deal depends on the culture of your organization, what type of business you are in, your geographic location and whether it is a city or small town, and whether or not you meet personally with clients. There is one old piece of advice that still stands: dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Who are the people you want to respect you? Whose good opinion would you like to cultivate? Take a look at how they present themselves, and consider how you might emulate them. If he always wears a jacket to meetings, don't show up in shirtsleeves; if she wears a smart pantsuit while others show up in jeans, veer towards her style. People relate to others who are like them, and your appearance is an important first step. In response to a survey I did on the subject of business casual dress, one woman said she liked to stay fairly formal because, as she said, "I'm young and pretty. It's hard enough to be taken seriously, and if I show up in jeans and a teeshirt I don't stand a chance." Is your appearance sabotaging your professional presence? ? Relationships Develop and cultivate a respectful relationship with your peers, those above and below you on the organizational chart, and clients. Unfortunately, many people spread gossip and unpleasant rumors about their colleagues. This is not professional conduct. In business, as in life, my mother's advice is still good: if you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all. Try as we might to be positive, it's not possible to be upbeat and bright all the time. Professionals provide the same high level of service regardless of how they are feeling. It's not the client's fault that you overslept this morning and missed your train; act like the professional you are, and your mood will take care of itself. You must see yourself as a professional, and then work on creating that impression for others. You'll soon notice people see you in a different light, and you'll have chances to undertake higher level projects. If you are job-hunting, your interviews will be more successful. Cultivate a reputation for doing things well and on time, getting along well with others and providing first class service to clients. That's professional presence, and it can be a strong force in helping you climb the career ladder.