Capricia P. Marshall knows etiquette. She has been both the White House social secretary and the U.S. chief of protocol.
And now, she’s got a message for all of us shifting to Zoom meetings: Be better prepared.
Thanks to a Zoom chat hosted by Meridian International Center to promote her book Protocol, Marshall laid down the rules for online meetings.
Most important was testing all the technology in advance. People should take a look at how the background appears on the screen.
And by all means, if you would dress up for an in-person meeting, then do the same for online gatherings. Those casual Friday “Zoom shirts” are not allowed. In fact, send out a dress code. “They are sizing you up. They are making a judgment call” by what they see, said Marshall. “Everyone sees everyone.”
In the book, Marshall uses her experiences to give tips and instructions on how to tap protocol rules to get ahead.
“I can say with authority that protocol is a legitimate superpower,” wrote Marshall, who worked for both Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama.
