Bread and Butter

Your bread or dinner roll should be put on your bread and butter plate which is always to your left, either above your fork or to the left of your forks! You should break your roll with your hands, one or at the most two bite sized pieces at a time.

The butter for your roll should also be put on your bread and butter plate. Only the piece of roll you are going to consume should be buttered at one time. Do not break your roll in half, butter each half and proceed to consume the roll one half at a time

Never, ever insult your Host or Hostess

Never, ever insult your host or hostess either during the party or afterwards when discussing the party with friends !
Remember you were a guest in someone's home and even if things were not perfect, a great deal of time and effort was expended in preparation for the party. You should be grateful that you were included as a guest.

Cell Phone Etiquette

The cell phone is a glorious invention, helping people stay in touch with one another, and relieving the minds of many parents. So love it for what it is, and realize that it annoys more people than it helps, and resolve to yourself that you will always use it politely.

The telephone can be a wonderful human extension of you. It really is out of this world instrument. So if you use the cell phone with care and express personality through its mouthpiece, the other person on the other end of the line will always welcome your calls.

Whether you use it for business, or personal use--- respect for others around you, the user, understand the rights of others in your immediate area. There is nothing worst than the a grocery clerk trying to ring up your order and the customer's cell phone is ringing and the customer ignores the clerk and answers the phone. Or spending the day on Jury Duty and one of the jurors forgets to turn off his cell phone. Be mindful and respect others with your cell phone.

Dinner at Home - entertaining friends

As a Guest you may have the run of the house, but do not assume that you do.  Always ask permission to visit an upstairs bathroom, for example, if the downstairs bathrooms are occupied.

If you are given permission to use the upstairs facility by the hostess, but she does not indicate that you can have a tour of her home, just use the facility and go back downstairs as quickly as possible.  It is rude to assume you can tour the home unless given permission to do so.

During the party, stay out of the kitchen.  You will be in the way!  Besides you were not invited to help cook or oversee the meal preparation.

Never touch anything that belongs to your hosts.  If the host has a selection of fine cigars, do not assume that as his guest he wants you to take your pick.  If your hostess has fine perfume on her dressing table, do not assume that she wants to share it with you.  Do not look in the closets, drawers, or medicine cabinets, etc.

The Don'ts - Dining Skills

• Don't smack your lips
• Don't chew with your mouth open
• Don't touch your face or head at the table
• Don't drink from the saucer
• Don't mop the face with the napkin
• Don't twist your feet around the legs of the chair, both feet should rest flat on the floor.
• Don't push your plate away from you when you've finished eating
• Don't under any circumstances, put the knife in the mouth

Basket of rolls - Dining Etiquette tip of the day

If rolls are being passed, remember to take the basket of rolls in your right hand from the person to your left, take a roll, then change the basket to your left hand and pass it to the person on your right. Crossing one hand over the other is much less awkward than trying to pass the rolls to the right with your right hand. Try it !

Handshaking - the Ultimate Greeting

We notice persons non-verbally by their touch, and the way we touch someone in business is most often with our handshake. One's handshake reveals a great deal about inner traits, personality and feelings. Most of all, a handshake conveys one's attitude toward others. Handshaking is a form of communication that needs no explanation, and one that is never misunderstood. Every time you extend your hand you are judged by your handshake and far more than you realize, you unconsiously judge others by the way they shake hands.

How to make an Entrance and Work the Room

One of the most important features in showing up any place is the entrance you make.

Almost everyone watches the entrance to a room - use it to your advantage.

Maintain good posture at all times because it instantly creates an impression of confidence.

To make a strong entrance walk into the room.

Pause briefly to spot key persons and to allow others to see you.

Don't stand in the doorway, I repeat walk into the room.

Rushing in and heading for the food or the bar is counterproductive to your agenda.

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Doing your homework will help you create confidence and authority.

Lori is always interested in working with brands and organizations that share her passion for poise, style, and sophistication.  Poise Matters is PR-friendly and has available ad space.  Lori is available for etiquette and protocol training and consulting.   
Click here to contact Lori. 

Lori Dominguez, a recognized Protocol and Etiquette expert, received her training in 1997 from The Protocol School of Washington®. She is certified and trained in International and Corporate Protocol and Etiquette instruction. Lori is a 34 year veteran of the Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, California.

Lori Dominguez, a recognized Protocol and Etiquette expert, received her training in 1997 from The Protocol School of Washington®.  She is certified and trained in International  and Corporate Protocol and Etiquette instruction.  Lori is a 34 year veteran of the Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, California.

Lori's dedication to etiquette started at a young age.  Her mother, Catherine, always insisted on proper manners and that she should "act like a lady" no matter how hard it might be at times.  As a young adult, she worked with Cicely Rigdon, known in the Disney Corporation as a poise and etiquette expert. She made sure all of the Tour Guides at Disneyland followed the rules of etiquette and proper behavior was observed.  She later had the honor of working with Dorothea Johnson from The Protocol School of Washington who taught her the value of etiquette knowledge and how to market it.  Lori uses her book from the school as a reference in her workshops.

Lori believes that good manners go hand-in-hand with good leadership and that today's leaders in business must know about proper business and social etiquette.  She currently trains business leaders, government officials, and today's Disneyland tour guides on proper manners, poise, and etiquette.

 

Lori is a wife, mother and an empty nester.  Both of her sons are grown and living on their own, Cameron 27 is living and working in Santa Monica and Blake age 25 is living and working in Tucson. No one is married yet, and they think I spend way too much time on social media.  Lori is a home grown Anaheim girl and proud of it.  She is married to a Football Coach, and has a 97 pound Bernese Mountain Dog named Touchdown.