Learning Professional Etiquette with Diane Gottsman

Yvette Mendoza

SHSU Career Services was able to bring etiquette expert Diane Gottsman to campus this past Thursday, and we were excited to join the process.

We were served a three-course meal while being taught corporate and social etiquette. As Ms. Gottsman stated, we have the opportunity to shape how we present ourselves.

Being confident, prepared, and knowledgeable is the key to success in etiquette, and with this in mind, we gathered together for a nice meal and a lot of learning.

The LEAP Members were intrigued by all the rules that apply to something as normal as a nice meal. As we were first seated at a round dinner table, we were ready to learn why there were so many utensils and what they were used for. We began with the B and D rule where bread is placed on the left and drinks are placed on the right.

Then you are to use the utensils from the farthest one out and work your way inwards.

Once everyone knew the placement of the utensils, we were able to have more confidence by having proper posture and our hands above the table at all times. We were ready to place our napkins properly on our lap and take on our meal!

With three different eating styles of etiquette to choose from, European, American, and Barbarian, we learned the European style. It entails, for example, eating your soup with the motion of your spoon facing away from you. Once you have finished, you would put both the fork and knife parallel from one another at 10 and 2. We were able to practice this ourselves with our tomato bisque soup…

…and our main entrée, chicken, broccoli, and mash potatoes.

While overcoming the challenges that came with a new style of eating, it was safe to say each LEAP member enjoyed learning every bit of it!

Topping off our dinner with a chocolate cake dessert, we were able to practice additionally while Mrs. Gottsman watched and critiqued.

We greatly appreciated Mrs. Diane Gottsman and the SHSU Career Services for hosting an etiquette dinner to prepare us for any social or corporate event. For we learned a lot about having etiquette!