‘A well-groomed person exudes thoroughness, high personal standards, efficiency and other admirable qualities,’ booms Ashok Rajanan’s rich timbered voice in a tightly packed seminar hall.

Ashok Rajanan from Image Extreme, Dubai - a leading image-consulting firm for individuals and multi-nationals was here in Bangalore to conduct a one-day workshop for around 100 zealous students of the Centre for Management Studies.

After spending 18 years as a corporate filmmaker he realised the need to train Indian men and women in different levels of management on various aspects of work related etiquette and switched over to being a trainer.

In a career that has spanned over three years, Ashok jet-sets all over the country, training mainly corporate and management institutions. He says, “Training for two or three hours everyday spread over a week has scientifically been proved to be extremely ineffective and it fails to make a mark.” A normal training session usually takes three whole days to complete, he elucidated.

His training session deals with a wide array of topics on different facets of business etiquette be it phone, dining or entertainment. Every aspect is gone over thoroughly right from shaking hands, making appointments to entertaining formally.

“A toe sticking out of a hole in your socks is like something sticking out of your own conscience,” he jokes using his ready wit and humour to drive home a point on men’s apparel for the work place. Besides he also intersperses the interactive sessions with diverse written and verbal exercises.

In a tete' a tete' with the students during an ice-breaker session, one could get mixed reactions for this workshop such as this particular student who was positive about applying these business etiquette tips even after completing the BBM course and another who quipped in that “it was compulsory to attend,” justifying his presence in the workshop.

One of the students Rajesh was quick to explain the need for such training programmes, as he put forth, “We are the budding managers of the country and it is obvious we need such sessions to develop competence and confidence in us.”

While at the same time another participant Pavan was quick to acknowledge the drawbacks of a one-day programme “It will be nicer if the workshops are of a longer duration. Then we will be able to learn and absorb much more,” he said.

Since this workshop was being held for the first time in the cultural capital, a natural question arises - how many of them are going to apply these tips practically! This especially applied to the 10 or so women students of Business Management.

When asked of the relevance of the programme since the students were only in their first year Mahesh, in a flash retorted , “ Most students are already doing internships at corporate business houses. If we practice initially we will master it later on.” No passing resolution this. Most of them intent on working hard to imbibe all that is being taught to them. As Mr Rajanan puts it, “ Fashion changes, Style doesn’t and CORE ETIQUETTE will never go out of style.”

Ashok Rajanan can be contacted at : 09884064888. E-mail: ashokrajanan@hotmail.com.