May 7 – May 12 is nationally known as National Etiquette Week, a week of bringing awareness in all areas of etiquette from the boardroom to the classroom.

In honor of National Etiquette Week, we are doing our part in promoting graciousness & civility. Purchase a copy of the Power of Civility this week for only $17.99 regularly $24.00

The Power of Civility is packed with thought-provoking perspectives on what civility really means, as well as practical solutions for incorporating civility best practices into your work and life. In this comprehensive book, eighteen top civility and etiquette professionals go beyond the typical “please and thank you” conversations about civility and challenge you to think about your personal standards, accountability, values, and what it means to be committed to choosing civility, whether at home, at work, in your community, or in public — at home and abroad.

This book provides the tools you need to boost your social intelligence and build your cultural competence, giving you the confidence and poise to go anywhere and be welcomed as a caring and considerate citizen of the world. Discover the power of civility!

The Power of Civility Table of Contents
The Power of One
Choosing Civility
By Lew Bayer

Civility Begins at Home
By Deborah King, AICI CIP

Public Civility
The Case for Face-to-Face Communication
By Deborah McGrath

Stand Out—Don’t Stick Out
Personal Accountability and Civil Business Essentials
By Tiffany Nielsen

The Power of Leadership Civility
Leading by Example
By Laura Barclay

Building an Exceptional Professional Image
Six Keys to Success
By Jules Hirst

Lunch Box Civility
A Tool for Leaders
By Penelope Paik

Develop Your Personal Brand and Power it with Civility
By Yasmin Anderson-Smith, MCRP, AICI CIP, CPBS

Networking with Civility
The Ultimate Business Tool
By Cheryl Walker-Robertson

Navigating the Social and Psychological Complexities of Incivility
By Suzanne Zazulak Pedro

Civility—Making it a Lifestyle
By Cindy Ann Peterson, AICI FLC

To Say or Not to Say, That is the Question
Political Civility–The Reality Show
By Shelby Scarborough

Civility Communicates Confidence
Five Traits that Pave the Way to Success
By Tara Crawford

Civility on Campus
How to Get an “A” in Conduct
By Denise F. Pietzsch

Uncovering Diamonds
The Challenge of Intergenerational Civility
By Pat Walker Locke, AICI FLC, CPC

Dining with Civility
Manners Matter at the Table
By Nonnie Cameron Owens

℞ for Mutual Respect
A Booster Shot for Civility in Healthcare
By Suzanne Nourse, CEPC

Cultural Considerations and Civility
How to Get Along as You Get Around
By Anita Shower

Purchase you copy today for only $17.99 and free shipping.

9 year old Caine Monroy spent his summer building a cardboard arcade at his Dad’s East LA’s used auto part store.  His dream was to have lots of customers visit Caine’s Arcade with little foot traffic his chances were slim, but he never gave up.

For more information on Caine’s Arcade visit http://cainesarcade.com/

Short Film by Nivran, producer by Interconnected

MIT understands you can be a genius and still not know what fork to use, this is why the school created MIT Charm School.

We should all know we never speak about “Politics”  at the dinner table, at a gathering with family or friends, the office, but what are you to do when there is no escaping it.  Here are 10 tips written by Diane Gottsman of The Protocol School of Texas.

1.  Allow the other person to state his or her opinion - Don’t interrupt – allow others to make their feelings heard.

2.  Ask questions – Even if you disagree with the comments of others, show respect by asking pertinent questions. You may be surprised to learn something new!

3.  Keep your voice down to a low roar- Don’t allow yourself to get worked up and start a shouting match with your coworkers or dinner guests.

4. Educate yourself on important issues – It’s important to at least be familiar with the beliefs and platform of each candidate to allow for knowledgeable discussion. Remember, being well-informed is always best!

5.  Don’t take it personally – Keep the discussion in perspective and ask yourself how much anxiety and conflict you are willing to undergo at the office or with friends by arguing over who the better candidate may be. Never resort to name calling or shame tactics, “I can’t believe you are that ignorant!”

6.  Vote – it’s a cop-out to say, “I don’t like any of the candidates so I’m not going to vote” – if you don’t vote for someone, anyone, you have no room to complain.

7. Politics is not off limits at a dinner party or social event – be prepared! You can answer with “I’m off political debate duty tonight – argue amongst yourselves” and opt out or jump in and make your point.  Do what feels right but always keep in mind you are a guest and don’t want to offend your host.

8. Keep it clean – Use your best judgment and keep your interactions civil – you host will thank you for not inciting further furor among his or her guests.

9.  Don’t assume that everyone wants to talk politics – Asking someone how he or she intends to vote in the election is invasive unless the information is offered first.

10.  Use your sensitivity training – Be mindful of how you are making others feel by voicing your strong opinions and avoid monopolizing the entire conversation with politics. Have other conversation topics handy in your conversational arsenal to pull from when the conversation is too heated.

According to a few studies Americans lack in Civility.… Do you agree?

Courtesy of: Schools.com