Communicate with Confidence/Project Report

              CHAPTER FIVE
' SPIT & POLISH'
Etiquette, Protocol and Requisite Speeches
Protocol is merely formal courtesy
Head table seating protocol can be anything from
ngid to very informal There arc only three that are more or
less set in stone
In a set- up where the MC is seated centre ( centre
mike) the Guest of Honour ALWAYS sits to his nght The
guest of honour is the person ( or the representative of a
gToup) who is being honoured at this event
In a set- up where the MC is seated to the side
I Podium to the side), the gucst( s) of honour are seated in the
centre Of the table This is generally used at wedding
receptions
The MC ( or whoever is acting as the MC) is
always seated a near as possible to the podium
Generally, the seating is diminishing rank out'
from the guest of honour
If possible, the seating is alternate female - male,
and the end seals are filled by men
NOTE In a case where the guests are all seated on a stage,
rather than at a head table' you still consider that seating
to he the head table
I n t r o d u c t i o n protocol is usually in order of
increasing rank or importance leading the applause up to a
crescendo for the most important the guest of honour or
the roost important person in the group you are introducing
When introducing a group of individuals who have
equal importance ( ie a graduating class) it is easiest to go
alphabetically. with a sentence or two before and after the
: t.. li> idual inlros indicating that you will now ( or have just)
lnlroduce( d) The Graduating Class' ( or what ever group)
Rank or importance of individuals in a club or
business is determined by their senionly and posiUon in
the organization ( Head office representatives would be
higher ranked than local If more than one. they, too, would
be ranked in introductions )
Military rank decrees that the Navy is the senior
service, followed by Army, then . Air force Individuals
within these groups would be introduced according to their
rank in their service.
Police are ranked by their junsdiction ( local.
Provincial, Federal) and within their junsdiction by rank
Political rank is dependent on their level of
government ( local to federal) and by the positions they
hold within that junsdiction
NOTE Elected officials are senior in rank lo appointed.
Church protocol is similar to all the above
NOTE The military' and government have protocol officers
who you can contact if you need clarification about rank, or
protocol In fact, if you are hosting a VIP, the protocol
officer will come and ' teach' you how you must do it. Church
and police will also have someone you can contact.
Etiquette is basically simple politeness Some things
you might want to note
Be sure that those who are expected to sit at head
tabic are greeted when they arrive, are made aware of the
sealing arrangements, are advised if there is to be an
entrance' and. if so, advised when and where to line up
( Place cards are a very good idea, loo.)
All participants in the program should have an
agenda to follow
Always rise and be seated from the left of your
chair ( At a cramped head table, this avoids collisions and
confusion)
If you are at the podium ( as an MC, introducer or
speaker) always remain there until the next person has time
to take ilini place at it.
If a speaker is over their time limit, it is perfectly
polite for the MC or Chairperson to stop them. Stand up
smile: move towards the speaker: wait for him/ her to pause:
say ( into the nuke) that her remarks are very important, but
due to Ume restraints, could she use the next ( one) minute to
sum up9
If you are a speaker, keep to the time constraints
You will be respected and appreciated if you do. If you have
not been given a time allotment, ask for one. If you get no
clear answer, watch the audience and chairman, body
language will likely make rt obvious when you should sum
up and sit down.
Formulae for Requisite Speeches
There are many form' speeches that we all find ourselves
being asked to make They are relatively simple, when you
know the formula.
It is the responsibility of the Chairman, MC or
Program director to appoint a person to make these
speeches WELL IN ADVANCE to allow preparation time.
Introducing a speaker
. An introducer has a few- more responsibilities than just
the speech', and is also a very important part of a program,
so we will start with it.