Founding Image: Now offering ISO Certification and Registration in Jamaica

You may not know that ISO originated from the joining of two excising organisations – the ISO (International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations) and the UNSCC (United Nations Standard Coordinating Committee). In 1946 25 countries met at the Institute of Civil Engineers in London to create a new international organisation, the objective was to ‘facilitate the international coordination and unification of industrial standards’ From this the new organisation ISO began in February 1947.

The word ISO is derived from the Greek ISOS meaning ‘equal’. As the International Organization for Standardization would translate differently across different languages it was decided that the short form name for the organisation would be ISO.

More and more Jamaican companies are realizing the importance of being ISO registered.

Founding Image ltd are now offering ISO services to Jamaican Businesses. http://www.foundingimage.com

To expand our range of business consultancy services we are now offering customer service, staff training, and the implementation / certification and continued auditing of ISO and BS EN Management Standards across Jamaica. We also offer ISO / BS consultancy, training and internal auditing as individual services.

Founding Image can guild your business through the process of becoming registered for ISO, implementing quality standards, documenting and auditing processes and quality manuals. Our audit team is committed to giving our customers a high level of service and making the process as easy and pain free as possible.

If you are a company in Jamaica looking for certification, auditing, or advice please contact Founding image directly at Linda@foundingimage.com or see our website at http://www.foundingimage.com

Business etiquette training in Jamaica

Founding Images business etiquette training, and coaching services are now available in Jamaica for the first time. The use of good etiquette is often misunderstood and undervalued, bad manners and poor etiquette are rarely intentional, it’s just that correct behaviour and expectations are not known. Poor etiquette can cost both employees and the organisations for which they work dearly.

The Founding Image Etiquette Programmes are specially designed to meet a variety of business and socializing needs. Founding Image is now available in Jamaica to assist individuals and businesses unlock their full potential, to always get the most out of an opportunity and to ensure clients and customers always see you in the best light possible and the courses are now available across Jamaica. http://www.foundingimage.com

The courses offered by Founding Image in Jamaica have been especially put together to cover a range of topics. The courses combine both modern business etiquette and social skills, along with traditional values and protocols.

For business etiquette, customer service and image consultancy need across Jamaica please see www.foundingimage.com or mail us at linda@foundingimage.com

Business card exchange – Founding Image

How to exchange business cards

Business cards are an extension of you and reflect upon your professionalism, attention to detail and style. To make a favourable and lasting first impression, it is important to observe these guidelines:

Cards must be in perfect condition

• Be judicious in offering business cards
• Never offer your card during a social lunch or dinner
• Allow senior executives to ask for your card
• Use business cards as business gift enclosures
• Get to know business card customs of persons from other cultures

Be prepared

Exchanging business cards can be a smooth transaction, or it could be an awkward situation, practice the art so that you are ready when someone asks for your business card.

Always have a handful with you to present to potential clients or other business associates, even on the weekends!   You’ll find that many important contacts and business card exchanges can take place in the most unlikely places.

Don’t hand out torn or worn business cards

Make sure they are clean and crisp with no frayed edges or pen marks. The best method of keeping your cards in neat form is a business card case. With designs ranging from techie to artsy to formal, you are bound to find one that fits your style, personality and of course how you wish to be seen in your business environment.

Do make it a point to hand out business cards

It doesn’t take a large convention to bring customers and business owners together. Informal meetings are one of the best times to network and exchange business cards. If the person you are speaking with seems interested in your product or service you represent, offer that person a business card.

Do receive a business card properly

When accepting a business card, have a good look at it for a few seconds. In your conversation, offer a compliment about the logo, design, etc.

Don’t hand out more than one card to a new contact

Only give one business card to your new contact. Leaving two or three may give the signal that you want them to make contacts for you which is in bad taste and unprofessional. Unless of course a prior agreement is made to exchange more than one card, keep the focus on person-to-person contact.

Do exchange business cards smoothly

When you first meet someone, it’s ok to request a business card from them. However, if the person is of a higher position than yourself, you should wait for them to offer their card to you first. Remember if they want you to have a card, they will give you one!

Don’t place it in a bag, pocket or wallet

Place the card you receive in a planner, notebook or business card case. Never place the card in a wallet that will be put in your back pocket. Doing so shows disrespect and an all around lack of organisation on your part.

Added Tips

Japanese business card exchange – Founding Image

Know business card customs of persons from other cultures – case study; Japan

The exchange of business cards is an elaborate ceremony in many Asian countries, especially in Japan.

The Japanese ceremony for a card exchange is called “meishikoukan” and is an essential part of Japanese business etiquette. The business card is a representation of your status in society. Japanese consider their traditions and culture very important, proper business etiquette demands that one treats the business card with respect and honour.

In Japan, after a person has introduced him/herself; use both hands to present your card, and in turn received the others card in both hands with a slight bow.

The business card should be printed in both languages; it should be printed in your home language or English language on one side and Japanese on the other. If you receive more than one business card at once, leave them lying on the table in front of you neatly until the end of the meeting or carefully insert them into a business card holder. It is important to deal with another’s business card with care.

In a business situation, business cannot begin until the meishi exchange process is complete.

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How to shake hands – Founding Image

First impressions – the Handshake

You will be forgiven for thinking that everyone knows how to shake hands correctly; but in reality this is not always the case! So many people get this so wrong and end up losing the opportunity to make that very important positive first impression count.

You can almost certainly recall the last poor handshake you received, in fact you probably can remember them all as they make a real and lasting impression – sadly not a good one!

So why do we shake hands at all?

Over the many centuries of human existence, many social customs have emerged out of both necessity and leisure. The handshake is one custom that encompasses both of those origins.

There are many historical accounts of how the handshake came into being, one of them is that the handshake comes from medieval Europe where kings and knights would extend their hands to each other and grasp the others hand as a demonstration that each did not possess concealed weapons and intended no harm to the other.

The handshake today is a critical business welcome and must be performed correctly as it is a gauge of confidence, trust, sophistication and feelings.

So how do we shake hands?

• Extend your right hand to meet the other person’s right hand.
• Point your thumb upward toward the other person’s arm and extend your arm at a slight downward angle.
• Wrap your hand around the other person’s hand when your thumb joints come together.
• Grasp the hand firmly and squeeze gently once. Remember that limp handshakes are a big turnoff as are bone-crushing grasps.
• Hold the handshake for 2 to 3 seconds.
• Pump your hand up and down a few times to convey sincerity.

Added Tips

• Keep meaningful eye contact throughout the exchange, this is vital and if missed can lead to a feeling of insincerity or disrespect.
• A two-handed handshake is not for first meetings. It is a sign of real affection, and you should reserve it for friends and intimates.
• Handshakes are not appropriate in all cultures. Investigate local customs if you will be visiting a foreign country.

Remember the handshake may appear little more than a formality to some, but to others it is a complete view into the personality of the person on the other end of the handshake.

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