The Do's and Don'ts of Holiday Parties: From International Etiquette Expert Jacqueline Whitmore

By Jacqueline Whitmore

This special digital e-book contains an excerpt from Jacqueline Whitmore's forthcoming book POISED FOR SUCCESS: MASTERING THE FOUR QUALITIES THAT DISTINGUISH OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONALS, on sale November 8, 2011.

How To Entertain With Elegance And Ease.

Rest assured: in today's fast-paced world, where most of us are short on time and resources, there are no absolute rules about parties. But the best rule to keep in mind is the five Ps: prior planning prevents poor performance. After all, the purpose of entertaining for business or pleasure is to show your guests a good time without getting too stressed out. In The Do's and Don't of Holiday Parties, Jacqueline Whitmore serves up ten tips to help you get started.

How To Be The World's Best Guest.
To ensure that you stay in the good graces of others this holiday season, Jacqueline Whitmore gives you a few simple yet often forgotten tips, covering everything from when to show up, how to ask permission to bring an uninvited guest, to what to bring, how to dress, what to discuss, and how to thank your host.

Whitmore, using her 15 years of experience as a protocol and etiquette expert, will arm you with the skills to become more self-aware, more confident and comfortable in your own skin, and better able to communicate with others in a credible, authentic manner.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Sep 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466800137

Jacqueline Whitmore

Jacqueline Whitmore is an internationally recognized etiquette expert and the founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. Her extensive client base includes the U.S. Department of Defense, Booz Allen Hamilton, Office Depot, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Deloitte, Merrill Lynch, Ernst & Young, Bloomingdale's, Sprint, and Burger King Corporation, among others. Jacqueline is a popular guest on radio and television and her etiquette advice has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Real Simple, Fortune, and O: The Oprah Magazine. Jacqueline and her husband, Brian Gleason, live in Florida.

Book preview

Entertain with Elegance and Ease

THAT’S THE SECRET OF ENTERTAINING. YOU MAKE

YOUR GUESTS FEEL WELCOME AND AT HOME.

IF YOU DO THAT HONESTLY, THE REST

TAKES CARE OF ITSELF.

—BARBARA HALL, WRITER AND TELEVISION PRODUCER

Entertaining clients, customers, and coworkers in a restaurant can be a lot of fun, but did you know that one of the most generous gifts you can give to others is an invitation to your home? When you entertain in your home, you reveal a more personal side of yourself, which in turn can build camaraderie and trust with your guests. My husband, Brian, and I love our home and we take a great deal of pride in sharing it with others. Our house is neither big nor fancy, but it is comfortable, tastefully decorated, and we always have something good to eat on hand.

It’s not necessary to be a gourmet chef or a professional party planner to coordinate a casual or elegant event. All you need is a little bit of planning and preparation and an adventurous spirit. I’ve learned that the best host is someone who entertains with heart and soul and happily pays attention to the details. The first step is to be as organized as possible to keep your plans from going awry. Unfortunately, many of us learn this important lesson from experience, and my hope is to help make you look good and avoid embarrassment regardless of how much or how little you entertain.

Before you invite your boss or an important client over for dinner,