Civility is sometimes neglected due to the stress of work and life responsibilities. Sometimes we make comments that were never meant to be heard. We throw off looks that project dark thoughts.

I am always impressed when folks take the time to be sensitive to those around them. Here are some examples:

• Allowing someone with only a few items who is behind you at a checkout line, to go ahead of you.
• Letting a car in front of you who missed a parking spot, back up and try again.
• Working for a boss who takes over when you are on deadline but need to go home early because of a sick child.
• Smiling when someone gives you a stern look.
• Being offered money to make up the difference when you are at the checkout and discover you don’t have enough cash.
• Calling someone by an incorrect name and the way you are corrected is to be gently reminded of the actual name.

The reason I recognize sensitivity is because these experiences have happened to me.

What does it take to be a member of the C Suite?

This is a question that comes up quite often. There are number of best sellers on the market that claim they have the secrets. I should know because I probably own most of them!

Here are my top six critical attributes if you aspire to the C Suite:

1. Work smart and hard
2. Know you belong as a member of the C Suite
3. Speak in headlines
4. Look the part (body language, facial expressions and clothing)
5. Understand the audience
6. Manage up
7. Have a good sense of humor
8. Always be ethical
9. Treat famous people like they’re not
10. Treat not famous people like they are

Most importantly, possess the drive and passion for what you do. That element almost alone, will propel you into the C Suite.

Hearing loss is not only for the older person. Because of ear phones, cell phones and loud music, many folks are having difficulty hearing. So, here are some things to remember to make sure you can be heard when you are having a conversation with someone who may have a hearing problem:

Do:

• Chose quiet area to sit in
• Make sure you are facing the person you are speaking to
• Maintain eye contact
• Speak slowly and pause after each sentence
• Ask questions twice
• Let them know when you are going to change the subject

Don’t:

• Sit near a door or near an entrance
• Shout at the person
• Turn your head away before you finish your sentence
• Change the subject without warning
• Be impatient when they cannot hear you
• Speak while they are speaking

If you follow these guidelines, communication problems will be minimized and conversations will flow easier.

It has been determined the growth of business in the U.S. will come from small businesses. As an owner of a small business one of the challenges I face is rejection. This is especially acute when I’ve worked hard to put together a proposal or responded to a casual inquiry from the internet.

No matter how long I’m at this, it is still hard when I don’t hear from people after they have promised a call. We take it harder because our reach for clients is not the same as a large corporation.

However, when we are the person doing the rejecting –do we make that call? If so, how do we to tell them we have hired another person? More often than not, we do the same to these folks that we don’t like being done to us.

So, I have made it a practice that once I realize that I will not be hiring a person I call them immediately. I thank them for the time they have spent learning about my needs.

I also mention that in the future if I know of someone who might use their services, I will mention their name. It has happened that I have given a vendor’s name that I didn’t use but that was a potential fit for another.

It is much more professional to be up front than not to call or e-mail at all.

How many times have you seen someone roll their eyes? They could be answering a question to you directly or answering a question in front of the audience. A Google search for “rolling eyes meaning” yielded 457,000 hits

Here are some of the writings from the internet:

• An expression of dismay or exasperation: actually or metaphorically moving one’s eyes to follow along an imaginary line of vision through the extreme range of the eyeball on the periphery of vision above the horizontal, from right to left or left to right.

• Idiom: If you roll your eyes, you show with your eyes that you don’t believe someone or aren’t interested in what they’re saying.

• Rolling your eyes is considered rude because it is a gesture saying you’ve got to be kidding or is she even thinking? It’s kind of like if you were talking and I let out a big sigh.

• It shows that you’re not interested in what they have to say. It’s equal to flipping someone off.

So, what do you do when you need to answer a question that may seem ridiculous or redundant because you just answered it? The best solution to prevent your eyes from rolling is to look the questioner in the eye, repeat the question and answer with a smile. You never want to be accused of rolling eyes.

Smoking is bad for your health. Plus, we are not living in an era where smoking a cigarette is considered chic. If you are a smoker and want to minimize the odor, do not:

• Smoke before a meeting.
• Wear a heavy cologne to mask the cigarette smell.
• Hold your cigarette the whole time you are smoking.
• Smoke in the car while driving.

These are the things you can do as a smoker to minimize the effect of smoke odor on your body:

• Smoke at least two hours before making contact with anyone.
• If you wear a cologne make it a light flower scent.
• Keep your cigarette in an ash tray while smoking (this keeps odor away from you).
• Keep an unscented fabric softener sheet in your pocket. It will absorb the smell.
• Wash your hands with mildly scented soap before going into a meeting.

Smoking has long ceased being elegant but if you do smoke, make sure it does not define you.

In today’s professional world, it is protocol to remember men and women are created equal. Here are some etiquette tips to clarify any misunderstandings:

• Whoever gets there first, opens the traditional door or goes through the revolving one.
• In speaking with a restaurant hostess the same rules apply. Whoever gets there first when securing a table for lunch or dinner verifies the reservation.
• Men are not required to help a women into her chair(the waiter will do this).
• Whoever is the highest ranking person in the room, he or she is introduced first.
• A man or woman can help each other with their coats. Whoever has a free hand, assists.

However, some common courtesies never go out of style. If a woman drops something it is nice for the man to pick it up.

Remembering these few protocols will remind you, that in the business world, all sexes are equal.

Airlines (not Southwest) make it very expensive to check a bag. So, many folks today carry their bags on the plane. What does the shape and color of the bag say about their owners?

The most popular luggage includes rollers that you can pull along. These are bag owners who are efficient and follow the rules found on http://www.luggageonline.com/about_airlines.cfm. The bags are typically black, brown or gray. They say I mean business. They say I am practical.

Then there are the owners who want to be different. Their luggage is usually in red, purple, yellow or orange. The business folks who are getting more hip are leaning to the orange and red bags.

There are the label bags, Gucci, Louis Vuitton or Tumi. These make a luxury statement for their owners.

The fun bags are the ones with all sorts of pattern that you either love or make your think— well, that bag will never get lost. Don’t allow your bag to look overstuffed. When it looks overstuffed and frayed you don’t like a world class traveler—only a worn out one.

The economy is tight right now but please continue to tip appropriately. These folks make their living through tips:

• Always tip between 15 and 20 percent on meals. If a light eater then 20 percent.

• Coats, valet service for cars always tip at least $2.00. For bags at airport, the standard is $2.00 for the first bag and $1.00 each bag afterwards. Consider giving $2.00 per bag when the weather conditions are at their worst.

• For cab drivers, $1.00 for a $6 dollar fair is recommended.

• 15% is the minimum for salons. An exception is when the services get to $200 or $300. Then you decide how you want to handle the tip but consider at least ten percent.

Tipping shows you not only that you appreciate their service but that you are world class professional.

How many times have we made mistakes or hurt someone’s feelings to the point where we had to apologize for our transgressions? Apologies have credibility only if they’re followed by consistent actions.

An apology, whether by Tiger Woods or by a person who is always late, will only be valued if the offenses are not repeated. Of course, the words of the apology have to be meaningful and sincerely delivered.

So, when you make a mistake, apologize with sincerity and back it up with the appropriate action.