This editions finds most of us busier than at any other time of the year. The biggest weekend for prom across much of the country is a couple of weeks away and the kids are finally thinking about getting around to ordering their tuxedos.

This editions finds most of us busier than at any other time of the year. The biggest weekend for prom across much of the country is a couple of weeks away and the kids are finally thinking about getting around to ordering their tuxedos.

Invoices for membership will be arriving at your door in the next week or so, and when you are at your busiest, we want to take a second to reassure you on the continually growing value in being a member of the International Formalwear Association.

Again this year the same as the past two, we are a self managed organization with tuxedo store owners and manufacturers alike working to add value while keeping the price reasonable for businesses of all sizes. The officers and board of directors have volunteered many hours to again not only offer you the great benefits of the past year, but add a few more!

The first new benefit scheduled to be ready later this summer is an app for the I phone. The I Phone although not familiar to everyone is another technological phenomenon sweeping across the country. These amazing little gadgets are computers with the availability of ANY desired information right at your fingertips. The number of I Phone users is set to reach 50 million by next year!

The app they are working on will be available to all of those users to purchase like a ring tone or game they may play. The IFA app will showcase styles by manufacturers and extol on the benefits of renting tuxedos from independent members across the country. The GPS based technology will know where the user is located and through our IFA member store locator direct them to your store. Thus driving customers to your door!

The second new benefit is a universal fitting form available for wedding parties to download from the formalwear.org site. This benefit will give IFA members the ability to have out of town measurements submitted to them from other IFA members anywhere in the world.

More details on both new additions will be available soon! We want to take a moment to thank you for your support and would like to let you know we are happy to hear from you with any questions or suggestions. Let us know what you think editor@formaltimes.com. 

Invoices for membership will be arriving at your door in the next week or so, and when you are at your busiest, we want to take a second to reassure you on the continually growing value in being a member of the International Formalwear Association.

Again this year the same as the past two, we are a self managed organization with tuxedo store owners and manufacturers alike working to add value while keeping the price reasonable for businesses of all sizes. The officers and board of directors have volunteered many hours to again not only offer you the great benefits of the past year, but add a few more!

The first new benefit scheduled to be ready later this summer is an app for the I phone. The I Phone although not familiar to everyone is another technological phenomenon sweeping across the country. These amazing little gadgets are computers with the availability of ANY desired information right at your fingertips. The number of I Phone users is set to reach 50 million by next year!

The app they are working on will be available to all of those users to purchase like a ring tone or game they may play. The IFA app will showcase styles by manufacturers and extol on the benefits of renting tuxedos from independent members across the country. The GPS based technology will know where the user is located and through our IFA member store locator direct them to your store. Thus driving customers to your door!

The second new benefit is a universal fitting form available for wedding parties to download from the formalwear.org site. This benefit will give IFA members the ability to have out of town measurements submitted to them from other IFA members anywhere in the world.

More details on both new additions will be available soon! We want to take a moment to thank you for your support and would like to let you know we are happy to hear from you with any questions or suggestions. Let us know what you think editor@formaltimes.com. 

Running the front of the store while overseeing production issues can be challenging! If you work for a company where you wear both hats and the ever present phone calls this time of year, it can be a constant exercise in patience, attitude, prioritizing, and time management. It seems that everything happens at once and that you rarely get the opportunity to take one task at a time. When things are overwhelming, setting priorities and good time management are your only salvation.

I’m sure you’ve experienced this scenario: the phone has rang at least 2 times yet unanswered, a newer employee appears looking for help with sizes, and a production person needs resolution right away for a missing or overbooked item. All of these things will inevitably happen in the midst of the other duties like banking, scheduling, or maybe just paying the rent you are trying to tackle. Which should you handle first?

Keep reminding yourself when handling multiple tasks the first thing to do is to prioritize. Take a deep breath and decide what can wait? In the example above, the following series of steps might help: First answer the phone, next help the new employee service the customer, and last of all make the call on the production issue. While you are answering the phone, make sure to make eye contact with the new employee to acknowledge their presence. The production question can hold for just a moment because the customer is always, always first.

Everyone is paying attention to what you are doing whether you realize it or not! And they will follow what you do quicker than what you say! The way others perceive you during busy times is very important, so be careful how you conduct yourself. Remember that people’s first impression of your attitude is based on a variety of factors, many of them nonverbal, such as your tone of voice, body language, and even the speed and pitch at which you speak. Are you really projecting the message you intend? Are you conducting yourself in a manner that your manager would approve of and that gives a favorable impression of your organization?

Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1) Are you answering the phone in a steady, cheery, helpful voice or in a short, hurried voice? Does the person on the phone feel like he or she has your undivided attention? Did you answer the phone in the appropriate amount of time? (Not before the second ring but before the 4th is a general rule.).

2) Are you treating co-workers the way you would want to be treated or are you snapping at them and acting unapproachable? Do you take the time to ask clarifying questions or do you jump to conclusions because you don’t have the time?

3) Are you putting on a happy face for the customers that come through the front door or are you looking at them as if to say, “What do you want?”

Your attitude and demeanor are the most important factors of all! Without this, the other things don’t really matter, do they? If you project yourself in a way that is positive, it will make the others around you react positively. . . whether it be in-person visitors, clients on the phone, or your co-workers. You will be able to work more efficiently with others, things will run more smoothly, and this in turn will give you more time to handle other tasks.

Engaging in conversation with a customer who is waiting in the front of the store helps to minimize their perceived wait time. Even if time doesn’t allow, just a few comments about the weather, for example, can make all the difference to them. It shows you are welcoming them and that you are personable and approachable.

If you become overwhelmed or have trouble remembering things, have a note pad ready to write things down. Take a moment and decide which things you need to handle first on the list. Cross them off the list as you complete the tasks. If someone asks for help, make sure to get a timeframe on when it needs to be done. This really helps to prioritize tasks. It helps to remember, too, that you are in control.

When you are tired and lacking focus, just remind yourself of how you would look to management if they were taping or filming you at your job. Would you be proud of how you were handling yourself or embarrassed of your poor attitude and grumpy demeanor? This is a good reality check to keep yourself in line and take a step back to look at your performance objectively. Force yourself to stay focused and consistent even when it’s difficult. The more focused you are, the less time you will have to spend on a project or prioritizing tasks.

Key points for staying calm under pressure:
C - Control, this is what you have even when it doesn’t feel that way. You are in control of your attitude and abilities
H - Handle your tasks in a steady, consistent manner.
I - Identify what is priority.
L - Learn your key points and keep them in mind throughout the day: attitude, focus, priorities, and time management.
L - Lead others to their destination with friendliness, calmness, and efficiency.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by everything happening at once, just remember to “CHILL” and you will be able manage yourself and your actions in a more productive
mode. By staying cool, you will be able to project a positive image and be perceived as an excellent resource for everyone you are encountering throughout your day!

Running the front of the store while overseeing production issues can be challenging! If you work for a company where you wear both hats and the ever present phone calls this time of year, it can be a constant exercise in patience, attitude, prioritizing, and time management. It seems that everything happens at once and that you rarely get the opportunity to take one task at a time. When things are overwhelming, setting priorities and good time management are your only salvation.

I’m sure you’ve experienced this scenario: the phone has rang at least 2 times yet unanswered, a newer employee appears looking for help with sizes, and a production person needs resolution right away for a missing or overbooked item. All of these things will inevitably happen in the midst of the other duties like banking, scheduling, or maybe just paying the rent you are trying to tackle. Which should you handle first?

Keep reminding yourself when handling multiple tasks the first thing to do is to prioritize. Take a deep breath and decide what can wait? In the example above, the following series of steps might help: First answer the phone, next help the new employee service the customer, and last of all make the call on the production issue. While you are answering the phone, make sure to make eye contact with the new employee to acknowledge their presence. The production question can hold for just a moment because the customer is always, always first.

Everyone is paying attention to what you are doing whether you realize it or not! And they will follow what you do quicker than what you say! The way others perceive you during busy times is very important, so be careful how you conduct yourself. Remember that people’s first impression of your attitude is based on a variety of factors, many of them nonverbal, such as your tone of voice, body language, and even the speed and pitch at which you speak. Are you really projecting the message you intend? Are you conducting yourself in a manner that your manager would approve of and that gives a favorable impression of your organization?

Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1) Are you answering the phone in a steady, cheery, helpful voice or in a short, hurried voice? Does the person on the phone feel like he or she has your undivided attention? Did you answer the phone in the appropriate amount of time? (Not before the second ring but before the 4th is a general rule.).

2) Are you treating co-workers the way you would want to be treated or are you snapping at them and acting unapproachable? Do you take the time to ask clarifying questions or do you jump to conclusions because you don’t have the time?

3) Are you putting on a happy face for the customers that come through the front door or are you looking at them as if to say, “What do you want?”

Your attitude and demeanor are the most important factors of all! Without this, the other things don’t really matter, do they? If you project yourself in a way that is positive, it will make the others around you react positively. . . whether it be in-person visitors, clients on the phone, or your co-workers. You will be able to work more efficiently with others, things will run more smoothly, and this in turn will give you more time to handle other tasks.

Engaging in conversation with a customer who is waiting in the front of the store helps to minimize their perceived wait time. Even if time doesn’t allow, just a few comments about the weather, for example, can make all the difference to them. It shows you are welcoming them and that you are personable and approachable.

If you become overwhelmed or have trouble remembering things, have a note pad ready to write things down. Take a moment and decide which things you need to handle first on the list. Cross them off the list as you complete the tasks. If someone asks for help, make sure to get a timeframe on when it needs to be done. This really helps to prioritize tasks. It helps to remember, too, that you are in control.

When you are tired and lacking focus, just remind yourself of how you would look to management if they were taping or filming you at your job. Would you be proud of how you were handling yourself or embarrassed of your poor attitude and grumpy demeanor? This is a good reality check to keep yourself in line and take a step back to look at your performance objectively. Force yourself to stay focused and consistent even when it’s difficult. The more focused you are, the less time you will have to spend on a project or prioritizing tasks.

Key points for staying calm under pressure:
C - Control, this is what you have even when it doesn’t feel that way. You are in control of your attitude and abilities
H - Handle your tasks in a steady, consistent manner.
I - Identify what is priority.
L - Learn your key points and keep them in mind throughout the day: attitude, focus, priorities, and time management.
L - Lead others to their destination with friendliness, calmness, and efficiency.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by everything happening at once, just remember to “CHILL” and you will be able manage yourself and your actions in a more productive
mode. By staying cool, you will be able to project a positive image and be perceived as an excellent resource for everyone you are encountering throughout your day!