AboutCynthia Lett Expertise One of the few Certified Etiquette Professionals (CEP) and Certified Protocol Professionals(CPP) earned by examination through the International Society of Protocol & Etiquette Professionals (www.ispep.org).
I will be happy to answer your questions about business or social etiquette, international customs or protocol issues.
Experience Ms. Lett has been the principal of The Lett Group since 1983 when she was trained as a professional in Business & Social Etiquette, Business & Social Entertaining, International Protocol and Executive Communications Skills. She has been a program speaker and coach around the world - teaching and advising on these subjects. Currently she consults with companies including Saudi Aramco, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, United States Postal Service, the US Dept. of Defense, US Department of the Treasury, NASA, Smithsonian Institution, Exxon-Mobil, Hilton Hotels, Ritz Carlton Hotels, and government offices of protocol for the United States, South Africa, Columbia, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Denmark, Finland, Canada, The Russian Federation, Chevron Overseas Petroleum and J. P. Morgan on these subjects. Additionally for the past eight years she has been an adjunct professor at The Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University, teaching the course in Business Protocol. She also offers private and corporate consultation and programs on the power skills necessary to compete in the international business arena. Clients include major universities, Fortune 500 companies, international associations and savvy professionals from all levels of the corporate ladder. She is the editor of APROPOS! - a monthly newsletter on these subjects and is host of It’s APROPOS! an internet talk show on similar subjects. Her new book, Lett’s Talk – Etiquette Dilemmas and How to Handle Them is due out September, 2007. There are nine universities which currently use her curriculum and text for their course on Business Etiquette. Her other new book, Mission Possible with Brian Tracy and Stephen R. Covey has just been released.
Ms. Lett holds a Master of Legal Studies degree from Antioch School of Law, Washington, D.C. and undergraduate degrees in Restaurant, Hotel, & Institutional Management and Public Relations from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. She also earned a certificate in Adult Learning Techniques from The George Washington University. Professionally, Ms. Lett is the founder of and serves as Executive Director of the International Society of Protocol & Etiquette Professionals headquartered in Washington, DC. She is an active member of the National Speakers Association, American Society for Training and Development; Women Business Owners; Professional Convention Management Association; and past member of the American Society of Association Executives; Foundation for International Meetings (Board of Governors 1986-1987). She was elected into Who's Who of American Women; Who's Who of Advertising Executives; 2000 Notable American Women; Who's Who of the World's Women; Who's Who of U.S. Executives and Who's Who of the World.
She has been featured and quoted in publications such as Successful Meetings, Meetings and Conventions, Meeting News, Business Travel News, Washington Business Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Regardies Magazine, Wall Street Journal, The Robb Report, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Harvard Business Review, Ohio Business Review, Training and Development Journal, CIO Magazine and others. During 1990, Ms. Lett planned a series of Business Exchange meetings in the Soviet Union for entrepreneurs from the United States who wished to learn about joint ventures with the Soviets in many different fields. Some of Creative Planning International's clients have included Wall Street Journal, A. T. & T., MCI Telecommunications Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, Department of State, McKinsey and Company, Duracell International, Security Pacific among others.
She is featured in the PBS special – Pioneer Living – as the protocol expert. Ms. Lett is also the etiquette expert for the Fine Living Channel and currently featured in Survival Guide – Office Etiquette. She is also a frequent expert on etiquette issues for Fox Cable News.
Expert: Cynthia Lett Date: 5/14/2008 Subject: promotions
Question QUESTION: I was the only one of 9 people to be hired with the new company whom had purchased the property I work at. I was hired to remain in the position I held of Assistant Property Manager. I was told they promoted from within, and that my new boss was being promoted from her current position. Five months later they moved her somewhat laterally (same title and salary, smaller property) to another property, and passed me for the promotion. While I know that it is not required to give people an explanation or a "head's up" that there will be this type of change, I feel they added insult to injury by not making me aware that the change was forthcoming. A word of, "You have not been with the company long enough", or something similar, would have gone a long way in easing the transition. In addition, they hired someone from outside the company to take this position. Oddly enough, this person had been the Property Manager here at this community 15 years ago for 9 years. She approached the company after hearing that they were purchasing other properties. They originally offered her the position my boss is taking. She marketed herself as being the best candidate to work here with her having had prior experience at this very property. What are your thoughts?
ANSWER: Dear Mary:
I understand your frustration when things happen at work that don't seem fair and without communication to the other employees. There are two things you can do at this point if you plan to stay with the company.
The first thing is to schedule a meeting with the boss. Express your interest in promotion and ask for the things that they are looking for to make it happen for you. The main reason bosses give me for not promoting someone is that they couldn't see them in the new job. That could be because the person doesn't have the people skills they are impressed with or they didn't know that there was strong interest in being promoted. People skills are most important.
The second is to prime yourself for the next opportunity. Join a professional association of property managers. Take a business etiquette course. Keep up to date with the new and refined methods that affect your industry. And most of all, let those who promote know that you are doing all that.
Remember that running a business is a bit unnerving- a known entity is safer than unknowns. The woman who was brought in from outside is a known entity and maybe she accepted a lower payscale than they thought they would have to pay someone on the inside.
Don't dwell on the wrong you feel has been committed. Instead prepare yourself for the next round of opportunities.
I hope this helps,
Cynthia Lett
www.lettgroup.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: all of the suggestions you have provided are excellent feedback and i am indeed already doing some of these things. i guess i did not make my original question clear, and it is as follows:
do you think it was poor business etiquette on their part to do this without saying something to me to prepare me?
thanks again!!
Answer Dear Mary:
It is always poor etiquette to do something that purposely makes someone uncomfortable or hurt. That said, businesses rarely provide warnings to employees when changes are made that don't include them directly. Generally speaking, proper etiquette is lacking in business at all levels and in all situations.
If only those at the top would realize that taking care of all employees like they would like to be treated goes a long way in employee retention and job satisfaction.
