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: 4/27/2007 Subject: Communication etiquette
Question Is it appropriate to respond to business e-mail with e-mail, fax with fax, phone call with phone call? Is it acceptable to return a phone call with an e-mail, a fax with a phone call, etc.?
Answer Dear Ainsley:
We sure do have a lot of choices regarding communications these days, don't we?
The most appropriate method of communication is just to respond which many people forget. They receive e-mail and then don't let the sender know they received it.
A fax is usually sent as a written documentation of the correspondence that two people need to have. If you receive a fax, a phone call or e-mail is appropriate for a confirmation. If you need to respond with an answer, a phone call is always best because it is the most person to person method. If a written response (for clarity sake) is necessary, a fax is appropriate. Remember that e-mail is never private and is forever retrievable. If the correspondence is something you don't wish the world to know about, a fax would be a better choice for instant communication. A written letter is also good (but not so instant). Phone calls ideally should be returned with phone calls. If you are not by a phone and your cell is out of power, you could send an e-mail acknowledging your receipt of their message and explanation that you will return the call at a later time. An e-mail can be responded to by e-mail or by phone, depending upon the message. Again, if someone e-mails you with proprietary information or obviously in a mood, you would be best to respond by phone not another e-mail. Your message is always going to be clearer and better understood when the other person can hear the tone of your voice as well as your words. Phone calls are also the most appropriate method of communicating proprietary information you don't want on the front page of your local newspaper.
I hope this helps.
Best regards,
Cynthia Lett CPP,CEP,CTP
www.lettgroup.com
