Ask the Expert Archives

Are you LinkedIn? Joining LinkedIn is easy and now you can join Emerge Lakeland's LinkedIn Group and connect to other Emerge Lakeland Members. Click or paste the following the link in your web browser to join: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/115974/4DC9803702F5

Don't know what LinkedIn is? LinkedIn is a business oriented social networking site. The purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. The people in the list are called Connections. Users can invite anyone (whether a site user or not) to become a connection.
Becoming connected is fast and easy but requires either a preexisting relationship or the intervention of a contact of theirs.

This list of connections can then be used in a number of ways:

* A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second degree connections) and also the connections of second degree connections (termed third degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone you wish to know through a mutual, trusted contact.
* It can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by someone in one's contact network.
* Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates.
* Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.

Permalink | Comments (0) | More in: Ask the Expert

Posted by Michael Wiener

Respondez s’il vous plait.
Respond, if you please.

R.S.V.P., French for “respond, if you please,” is used as an etiquette ritual to accept or decline invitations. It is still used for the social occasion, though some hosts complain that it’s largely ignored. The R.S.V.P., sometimes in the form of a reservation tear-off, is also used for professional associations and business occasions.
It really is the only organized, efficient way to plan events, seminars, meetings or parties. Any business-related event that involves food or beverages must provide the catering departments with a final head count at least 24-48 hours prior to the event.
Savvy networkers know that the lack of awareness and use of the R.S.V.P. can impact a career. A person who continually drops in on events, or reserves and is a no-show is making a statement: “I am too disorganized, cannot plan my schedule, cannot prioritize, do not follow through and have no working knowledge of etiquette.”
The R.S.V.P., while part of a code of etiquette, is plain basic, common courtesy. If you plan to attend an event, you reserve a space by phone or email. If you cannot attend you cancel the reservation. We are building rapport and reputations when we R.S.V.P. The message is: I am considerate.
Examine the other alternative: dropping in on an association dinner. One person doing so is usually covered in the fudge factor. What happens when 20 other professional colleagues do the same? Problems!
Take for example a business event. Based on reservations plus a drop-in number, the room was reserved and refreshments ordered. Unfortunately, an additional 75 people showed up at the door. The room was too small and the food was inadequate. Several people complained. When asked if they had made reservations and “no” was the answer, it is very clear that they could only fault themselves and others who neglected to R.S.V.P. The real victims were the guests who took the time to make their reservations and had to deal with the chaos.
The question remains: Can busy people by bothered with the R.S.V.P.? Yes! We must manage our time and our manners. Many people in positions of power and authority who are busy manage to have the time for appropriate, considerate behaviors of etiquette.
How we behave in work-related settings is a statement about who we are. Can our careers withstand the image we create when etiquette is ignored?

Permalink | Comments (0) | More in: Ask the Expert

Posted by Emerge Lakeland