Blog

The Art of the “Pivot!”

Almost funny in its simplicity but detrimental to getting anywhere.  Our politicians are masters of the game and it is definitely in the realm of diplomatic evasion.  Watching interviews these days is like a blood sport in pursuit of ratings and/or political propaganda. When I first heard the term “pivot” I had visions of a

Diplomacy: Unexpected Opportunity that broke the impasse!

Whereas traditional emotional diplomacy advocates for an official state-ordained diplomacy policy, there are times when in interpersonal relations emotions may be the key to moving things forward or reigniting talks following a breakdown in negotiations. In 1993, during the Bush administration, talks between Israel and Jordan were initiated in Washington D.C. Palestinians were included as

Protocol & The Media

Protocol sets the stage for a positive public image nationally and internationally.  A perceived slight in procedures reverberates throughout the media in real-time.  This can have severe ramifications for public diplomacy. Responsibility of the Protocol Officer: The Protocol Officer does not work in a vacuum and is privy to the goals and desired outcomes for

Academic Update from the IPIC! Master in Contemporary Diplomacy: Diplomatic Relations & the Art of Negotiation in a Global Context.

There are very few positive outcomes from the Pandemic but, in this case, I am grateful that it gave me the opportunity to pursue a “Master in Contemporary Diplomacy” tailored for working diplomats and those involved in international realations.It is coordinated by the DiploFoundation Switzerland in cooperation with the University of Malta. The degrees from

5-Day Customized “Train to be an International Protocol Specialist”

On March 22, 2024, we completed our 5-Day Customized “Train to be an International Protocol Specialist”in San Diego, California. Evaluations reflected a score of 10/10!The program was focused on the protocol interactions between the U.S. Military in the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) region. Contact us to customize a program specifically tailored to your

Conversation is a well-played Game of Tennis!

Conversation is a tennis game! Since conversational skills are included in our corporate etiquette and executive presence programs, I automatically listen and observe other people in conversation…what makes one person a vibrant conversationalist and another the invisible man or woman? The following are tried and true guidelines to ensure you are memorable: WARM UP BEFORE

Protocol Officers – The Unobtrusive Diplomats!

Protocol Officers are the ultimate diplomats—the choreographers who direct the dance of diplomacy, which in turn, affects all aspects of public perception.  The overarching goal for any event whether diplomatic or international business, is to portray the home country or company in a positive light.  When we consider protocol, there’s a common misinterpretation that it

Diplomatic Protocol – The Well-Placed Couch!

In 1993, during the Bush administration, talks between Israel and Jordan were initiated in Washington D.C. Palestinians were included as members of the Jordanian delegation, but due to the ongoing conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis, this was not acceptable to either party. The situation reached an impasse, and the interim solution was that the

10 Rules for being an Excellent Host

World Protocol Magazine

World Protocol Magazine Protocol above and beyond: The International Protocol Institute of California Guest Author: Marie Betts-Johnson, Founder and Director of the International Protocol Institute of California® Worldprotocolmagazine Marie Betts-Johnson_InternationalProtocolInstituteofCalifornia Date: 3 December 2021 Reading time: 4 mins As the World Protocol Magazine Editorial Board, we take enormous pride in keeping this platform open to all