Etiquette is Power to one of Best 300 Professors

If you’re the type of person who doesn’t know a salad fork from a tuning fork, it’s OK, there is help. LisaMarie Luccioni, known as the University of Cincinnati’s “Miss Manners,” has been teaching in the Communication Department for 23 years and also teaches a “Business Etiquette and Professional Image” class in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business.

She can tell you when is the right time to put your napkin in your lap (when you take your seat) and when to tuck it into your collar like a bib (never, unless you’re at some kind of eating contest). She knows how to make a proper introduction and on which side of your shirt to wear your name badge. In essence, when it comes to all things etiquette, Luccioni is your go-to guide, thank you kindly.

Her social savviness and popularity among her students recently helped her earn nationwide recognition from The Princeton Review, a Massachusetts-based education services company known for its test-prep courses, books and student survey-based college rankings. Luccioni was profiled in “The Best 300 Professors,” a collaboration between the Review and RateMyProfessors.com published April 3.

The distinction places Luccioni in an elite group of educators. According to the Review, from an initial list of 42,000 professors considered, the final 300 constitute less than .02 percent of the roughly 1.8 million post-secondary teachers at colleges and universities across the U.S.

Here she talks about the honor and why etiquette matters.

What does being named one of the "Best 300 Professors" show you about the importance of teaching?

The value of the educational process — occurring at any level — can be immediate but it also endures. Teaching and learning are reciprocal processes. I’m happy to share what I know, but I’m equally receptive to what my students and colleagues can offer. How many times have I approached my own students seeking advice and counsel? Frequently, and I believe I’m the better teacher for it.

How does this recognition reflect on the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences?

I received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication from UC. The breadth and depth of a liberal arts education enlarged my perception of the scope of our world. The expanse of classes – English, literature, sociology, psychology, and other disciplines – offered exposure to information I needed to know. The liberal arts background taught me, developed me and encouraged me to view my world from this broader perspective.

Additionally, I work with top-notch faculty. I listen to my colleagues speak in departmental meetings. I hear their delivery, their passion and their articulation. They were and are my communication exemplars. My respect for faculty is profound.

Why is proper etiquette so important?

Etiquette empowers. Etiquette gives edge. Etiquette advances. Knowing what to do, what to say, and how to behave in any given context triggers confidence and ease. We comfortably move from situation to situation, adjusting our appearance and behaviors if necessary to perhaps increase chances of achieving professional objectives.

Power isn’t necessarily possession of the corner office or having a name at the top of an organizational chart. I’d suggest power can be acquired through making a correct introduction (there is a protocol), fulfilling the gracious role of host during a business lunch, or knowing how to gracefully enter and exit a conversation.

How has the rise of social media affected etiquette?

Communication is irreversible. Once you write something, say it, post it, blog it, or tweet it, it’s on display for public consumption. Some people find themselves in constant “apology” mode but living life this way cannot be pleasant.    

People form perceptions of us through social media before they even meet us. Somehow that social media impression “becomes” us when it’s only a part of us, if it’s even representing us accurately. We must consider if our social media activity is consistent with the image we wish to project.

What’s up next for you?

I have campus and corporate speaking engagements on the calendar. This summer, I train with an image consultant who has her own studio and is masterful in color and wardrobe. While I’m now working with executive women to build wardrobes, I know what I don’t know – that’s why I continue to learn. That’s the liberal arts influence there – I must know it all!