Protocol Consultants International
Fabulous Woman Kerry Healey
by Judith Bowman on 05/17/16
Fabulous Woman - Jacqueline Moloney
by Judith Bowman on 03/05/16
Blogging for Huffington Post
by Judith Bowman on 01/20/16We are very pleased to be a contributor to The Huffington Post blog. Our first article is on exactly what you would expect.... Protocol.
Fabulous Woman - Christie Hefner
by Judith Bowman on 12/15/15
Fabulous Woman - Linda Zecher
by Judith Bowman on 11/30/15
Linda Zecher is the first female president and CEO of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the nation's most trusted brand in publishing and largest textbook publisher for children.Fabulous Woman - Mika Brzezinski
by Judith Bowman on 11/17/15
Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe" and founder of the
“Know Your Value” movement for women, is the mother of two teen girls, Emili, 19, and Carlie, 17. She is self-described as “a woman who has had a lot of privilege. I came from a prestigious family, and despite the difficulty I gave my parents, somehow they got me educated, cultured and socialized … and it was still hard for me … there were still bumps along the way.”
Read more bout Fabulous Woman, Mika Brzezinski
Fabulous Woman, Lauren Baker
by Judith Bowman on 10/08/15
Programming the Subconscious Mind
by Judith Bowman on 09/01/15
The quote,
"I think therefore I am" prompted me to think further about our
ability to actually program our subconscious to redirect our destiny.
We can actually program the subconscious mind to tell ourselves we
"are." When we consciously tell the subconscious mind that we feel a certain way, we program our
subconscious mind to respond in kind. Anything we want to attract is the result
of what we put into our subconscious mind. Once programmed, the subconscious
mind responds to whatever is planted; a change in feeling is a change in
destiny!
Program What We Want to Attract
If we program negativity or worry, a negative feeling will be
created and we experience the destiny of being unhappy, sad, etc., and this
will beget negativity and worry. When we consciously shift away from negative
thoughts and program the subconscious mind with positives ... e.g. the
"I am's" (I am content,
I am healthy, I am Fabulous! etc.) our wish will become
reality. Because our subconscious mind represents what we ask for, what we want
to attract into our life is fundamental.
Preparation
The subconscious mind is most comfortable in the unconscious state e.g. just as we are about to go into sleep state. Therefore, just as you are getting drowsy, consciously prepare your mind for the next eight (sleeping) hours of marinade. Instructions are sealed when we sleep. We have the power to not only shape and influence, but compose our instructions. Consider how you want to prepare yourself for having your instructions sealed.
Achieving Goals
To achieve your goals ask yourself the question: How would I feel were my wishes and dreams realized? Then assume this state. Live the feeling of being the one you want to be - of a wish fulfilled in all aspects of your life.
Confidence! Set Yourself Apart
by Judith Bowman on 07/23/15Confidence is that quality that sets people apart… it's difficult to define but easy to detect. Read our latest newsletter to help you learn more about this important attribute. *Also, read our newest feature, Fabulous Women. Our first article explores the life of Massachusetts Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.
Sports talk breaks the ice in business
by Judith Bowman on 06/21/15
- Make appoint of knowing how i.e. the Red Sox are doing.
- Stay up to speed on “Deflategate” and whether it will ultimately tarnish Tom Brady’s legacy.
- There’s 2026 World Cup soccer and FIFA scandal: the world’s most popular game is at the heart of one of the most egregious scandals in sports history.
- Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah (born in Kentucky) has an Egyptian owner, a Mexican Jockey and an American trainer (born in Arizona). Last Winner: Affirmed, 37 years ago (1978,) Seattle Slew, 1977, and the great Secretariat before him 1993.
- NBA finals – the Golden state warriors vs the Cleveland cavaliers. LeBron James played the best in his career history and played his heart out - with a split skull glued together until he could get stitches. Stephen Curry, MVP prevailed and out-shined.
The Presentation
by Judith Bowman on 05/10/15
Handling an Irate Client
by Judith Bowman on 03/25/15
Coming face-to-face, tête-à-tête with an irate client can be daunting, yet this potentially volatile situation presents an opportunity to distinguish yourself at your highest skill set.
An irate client is essentially saying, “give me attention!” Therefore, we say, “give it to them!” Kill them with kindness.
Immediately establish yourself as the consummate professional, in Control of the situation. Exude calm and confidence through voice and body language as you endeavor to establish Trust.
Tips:
- Greet from a standing position. You do not want to be in the position of
sitting while they stand essentially looking down on you.
Ref: peace talks in 1953 with North Koreans: The North Koreans, who are a shorter people, strategically positioned North Americans on a lower level in a sloping amphitheater in
- Encourage them to sit. Sit after they are seated and sit the way they do. Become chameleon-like, in order to adapt and subtly let them know you are “with them”… you are relating to them.
- Listen with your eyes (and ears.) Be an active listener.
- Validate them and say “I understand.”
- Show sympathy for their frustration. Say, “I am sorry you are experiencing this situation.”
- Empathize. Even though this may have never happened to you, say you have experienced the same type of thing; share a story to show you relate.
- Thank them for bringing this to your attention.
- Summarize what you have heard and play it back to them.
You are sincere and respectful.
Try to maintain a sense of humor (it’s the American way!) and keep things in perspective. Think: John F. Kennedy. As President, JFK was renowned for his ability to diffuse tense situations especially with the clamming press with whom he endeared himself by his skillful use of humor.
Give a realistic estimate of when you will respond (should research be required.) Bring them to agreement; honor promised time frame ... you building Trust.
Offer a genuine apology, “I am sorry you are experiencing this situation.”
If you have a solution, offer this.
Don’t:
- lower yourself or your standards.
- return rudeness or vulgarity.
- argue. Be the better person.
- accept verbal abuse.
If you are unable to satisfactorily remedy the situation, bring in a superior.
Thank them for the opportunity to try to correct the situation. End on a positive note. You, your company will be remembered positively.
Examples of Civility - “Dissing”Benjamin Netanyahu
by Judith Bowman on 03/17/15
There is a world crisis looming. Israel is a crucial US ally strategically and
morally. Why is this administration so
passive?
Israel is facing the single biggest threat to their nation since
the Holocost, as the nuclear arms race against Iran escalates… and our President who, himself, has breached the
imperatives of protocol more than any other president, stands on a point of protocol?
At stake:
-
Iran hates Israel and seeks to annihilate
them.
-
Netanyahu has
appealed to law makers in Congress to circumvent White House diplomacy and
either block or broaden terms of any deal with Iran.
Netanyahu was
invited by Congress - a branch of government, well within its prerogative, especially on a matter of this scale. The invitation had bipartisan support because
members of both sides of the aisle recognize the fundamental threat to world
peace a nuclear armed Iran would pose. Netanyahu saw this as an
opportunity for his country and embraced it.
In dissing him,
President Obama said he was being sensitive to political implications with
Israel’s upcoming election which, most respectfully, Mr. President, has nothing
to do with the big picture. Obama seems
not to like Netanyahu
- and clearly, Netanyahu
feels this.
We can debate the technicalities however, the bottom
line: Netanyahu
was invited and he accepted. As such, we
have (host country) responsibilities.
This White House’s behavior was rude and has shown complete disrespect toward
this World Leader, our long-time ally and, disrespected the friendship.
Protocol Abandoned
Ø The
President blatantly demonstrates his contempt for the Prime Minister which in
itself, is protolically inappropriate.
Ø Protocol
suggests meeting “level to level;” this White House not only did not meet with Mr.
Netanyahu, President Obama did not even shake his hand while he was here.
Ø Prez
was “too busy” to watch his congressional address (says he was “briefed”)
Ø Joe
Biden, the VP, whose job it is to
preside over Congress wasn’t even there … he was “traveling.”
Ø Nancy
Pelosi said publicly she was almost “in tears!”
Ø 50
other congressmen didn’t show up.
Gifting:
House Speaker John
Boehner thoughtfully gifted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a bust of
Winston Churchill. The gift was chosen
because, like Winston Churchill (who addressed our Congress three times)
Netanyahu is the only foreign leader to have addressed Congress.
As the Israeli Prime Minister has said, “President Obama’s
posture here does not block Iran’s path to the bomb, it paves Iran’s path to
the bomb.”
Why does our president look the other way? (BTW – Obama is Muslim … does he carry those
anti-Semitic thoughts?)
“Do Unto Others”
We have two more years of Obama and going forward, what do you suppose will
happen when John Kerry or our next Secretary of State calls upon Israel for their support? Mr. Obama’s conduct is not only
inappropriate, unbecoming and embarrassing, but damaging to foreign relations
with Israel.
Mr.
President, please be reminded from the book, “Art of War” an immensely influential ancient Chinese book on military strategy, also known as Sun Tzu, “Keep friends close and your enemies closer.” And, if nothing else, Mr. President, from the Godfather, please remember, “It’s not personal, It’s business!”
Questioning the Status Quo
by Judith Bowman on 02/22/15
The recent sports illustrated cover which leaves little to the imagination, is a classic example of an ambitious business decision gone awry.
Admittedly, we have become a society of extremes – X-treme rides in Las Vegas have been trumped by more X-treme thrills in China and Dubai… X-treme sex at the movies and online is beyond X-plicit. X- treme fashion, music, reality shows, cars and more. However, going too far has its own set of rules and there comes a point where the “wow” factor subsides and the thrill-effect backfires.
The iconic sports magazine, in its ambition to be more suggestive and sell more magazines, has only been successful in being too provocative and reaching a new low to the point where women – and men - around the country are talking derisively and some groups are urging retailers not to openly display the magazine. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation says, the magazine has migrated into the “adult magazine” classification. If this cover was on Penthouse or Hustler whose reputation is aligned with nudity and pornography, we would not be having this conversation. However, because SI has the reputation for being a coveted journal of respected sports coverage for the past 50 years and our children read this magazine, we expect more.
The SI brand has always been synonymous with promoting athleticism and featuring role models both male and female. When SI first ran the Swim Suit edition, it was considered a bit avant garde and even titillating for a sports magazine however, consumers bought the magazine which encouraged the publication to continue the Special Edition. Sales escalated and the Swim Suit edition became a much anticipated issue, not to mention a coveted, even prestigious “get” by models. By choosing to exploit nudity and thereby denigrate women, the magazine has made a bad business decision.
Bad business decisions happen all the time. Management makes mistakes; companies are not
omniscient. Most of us are hard-wired at
work to “go along to get along.” We are
encouraged not to upset the status quo and not question the boss. Heck, its’ even one of Washington’s Rules of
Civility and Decent Behavior: “When your
Superiors talk to any Body hearken not neither Speak nor Laugh.”
That said, when controversial issues arise in your own companies be a voice. Express your opinion. You were hired for a reason. What your company was saying essentially when they hired you was, “I like what I see, I want to see more.” Know that your opinion matters. It takes courage to be that person to speak up and risk upsetting the status quo.
As always, it’s not what you say but how you say it. Say it respectfully, with confidence and conviction.
Although none of us had a say in whether or not this cover should run, we do have a say now. Express your opinion at the cash register and speak to their bottom line. Also, e-mail your opinion to: judith@protocolconsultants.com.
Integrity in Sports
by Judith Bowman on 01/31/15
The New England
Patriots have been so unusually good for so long that it seems fans are bored
and the competition is jealous! What
happened to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty? Behavior as of late, is reminiscent of the
Salem witch trials… And it seems the
vulturous press would rather sell gossip and
exploit minutia than focus on ‘just another Superbowl’ … adding the suffix “gate” – implying scandal
or at least, underhandedness (no pun intended) has been a nice touch! All this is not very golden rule type
behavior, something upon which even sports etiquette is based. Moreover, the upshot of this debacle
threatens to cut at the core of fundamental qualities of integrity and trust - upon
which personal, business and sports relationships should be based. Tom Brady has denied any knowledge of
impropriety and I believe him.
… even
if air pressure was altered, this clearly did not affect Brady’s performance as
Patriots scored 28 points during the second half with a fully inflated ball
(which was also heavier because it was drenched) versus 17 points with a less inflated ball. Velocity is also reduced with an under-inflated
(heavy, wet) ball … so much for the integrity of the ball …
Brady’s
integrity:
The New England
Patriots are a true Dynasty Team. Tom
Brady could be The best quarterback of all time and Bill Belichek one of the
best coaches. Tom Brady and The New
England Patriots are professional, world-class athletes who have earned titles
and trophies not by individual accomplishment, but by shared achievement. They have played and won consistently, as
true Gentlemen Warriors. Individually
and collectively, they have demonstrated that treating others with respect is
contagious and key to winning.
Tom Brady is a
star athlete and a leader who works for his wins, studies and prepares. His confidence and sense of authority come
from exhaustive preparation. He is known
to watch every frame of every defensive play of the season at least once and
memorize every twitch and tic of every cornerback and safety. He gets briefed and briefs himself on
strengths and weaknesses of his opponents including their habits, tendencies
and vulnerabilities. Teammates admire
his presence and personality, his work ethic, selflessness, humility and show
of respect toward everyone.
Let not hearsay,
innuendo and viscous rumors tarnish the hard-fought, well-earned reputation of
one of the greatest quarterbacks in history.
