Business etiquette is another issue of concern for the female business traveler. En route, you may not be involved with clients. But once you arrive at your first meeting or set loot in a convention hall, you're in a business setting, and etiquette questions arise. We especially challenging for a woman to combine the appropriate business response with the most well-mannered one. The two are not mutually exclusive. But many women have not had to face these etiquette questions at home because the situation occurs for the first time while they are traveling.
Whether this is your first, trip or an annual ritual, an industry convention provides a unique opportunity for women to meet and network with others in their field. In some cases, others from your company may attend, perhaps even your boss. In any case, you are representing your firm and want to be on your best behavior. There will be some challenges to face-such as how to introduce yourself to perfect strangers and attending evening events while still getting enough sleep to face the next day's seminars.
You may find that some men are more forward and aggressive at a convention. Keep your cool, and remember that the intensity and closeness of the setting can bring out the worst in people. Then, let it bring out the best in you. Step up to the challenge, because the benefits to your career are worth it.
Limit alcohol intake
After years of attending conventions, I think I have seen it all. Women who've had drink too much dance on tables. Men publicly, passionately kiss women (who aren't their spouses) because they've both had too much to drink. At a convention, it seems, people want let their hair down. Although fun and frolic may be amusing at the moment, a minute-by-minute retelling of various sophomoric actions certainly can't be comfortable for the participants upon return to the office.
Most often, the easiest way to reduce the potential for embarrassing behavior is to limit alcohol intake. This sounds simple enough, but many first-time convention attendees forget that maxim when the drinks are free. Promise yourself before you walk into the first convention event that you won't have more than one drink. Switch to soda wafer after a glass of wine or that martini. Limit those wild nights and overindulging to non-business situations, when you're in the company of your loving family or understanding friends-not when your job or future career moves could be in jeopardy. Even if no one from your office is at the convention, word somehow spreads and could come back to bite you.
Now that, you have the number-one convention problem under control, there are a few other considerations that will help make your convention experience easier.
Dress appropriately
This isn't the time to bring out that very sexy dress you've de-dined to wear at the office, or to step into some flattering but killer high-heel pumps. Your feet will appreciate the low-heeled shoes after a day of standing!
Follow the convention dress code, wearing nice pantsuits or skirted suits. Make a fashion statement with a designer scarf or unusual jewelry, rather than a backless dress or a slit-to-high-thigh skirt. (On the practical side, dress in layers. Convention halls are notoriously freezing-or hot.)
Smile and shake hands
Keep smiling. You'll be more relaxed and in a better mood, and people can't help but be warm and friendly in return. Whenever you're introduced, or is someone comes up to ask a question, remember to smile and extend your hand. Conventions are a great opportunity to network and meet others-and a smile and ready handshake helps smooth the way.
Some men have been taught, not to extend their hand first, to women, so you need to put your hand out for the handshake. To help recall a person's name later, say his or her name aloud as you shake hands. Repetition is a memory aid, as is associating that, person's name with someone you already know with the same name.
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