Adrienne Barker, MAS — Founder of Professional Global Etiquette — asks her AI friends to debate one of the trickiest etiquette dilemmas: timing.

Should you arrive early for a job interview? Is showing up right on time the best move for a dinner meeting? And when it comes to holiday parties, does “fashionably late” send the wrong signal? Together, Adrienne and her AI debaters explore what’s appropriate across interviews, dinners, family gatherings, and global cultures.

They’ll also weigh in on the to drink or not to drink question at business dinners and holiday events, plus unpack the cultural divide between monochronic (punctual, task-driven) and polychronic (flexible, relationship-first) approaches to time.

🎧 Tune in for a lively, thought-provoking debate that blends timeless etiquette rules with modern realities—and a few global twists.

🔑 Key Takeaways

→ Interviews: 10 minutes early is perfect; never late → Business dinners: arrive on time, follow the host’s lead on drinks → Family & friends: casual flexibility, but don’t abuse it → Holiday parties: 15–30 minutes late is fine, beyond that is risky → Cross-cultural tip: learn to bridge monochronic vs. polychronic time styles

💬 Quotes from Adrienne's AI Friends:

"Being five minutes early isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It says, ‘I respect your time, and you can count on me.’" "

Time isn’t universal—it’s cultural. Respect means learning the rhythm of the people you’re with."

📌 Next Episode Teaser

Next time, Adrienne and her AI friends tackle Dining Reservations & Dining Etiquette. From cancellations to the bread plate mystery, you won’t want to miss it.

Is standing up to greet someone still a sign of respect—or just old-fashioned? And when you pick someone up in your car, do you need a clean seat or just a shared playlist? In this episode, we dive into whether the classic rules of etiquette are timeless essentials or if bold new behaviors define modern professionalism.

In this debut episode of the Professional Global Etiquette Podcast, Adrienne Barker, MAS, moderates a lively AI-powered debate between “The Traditionalist” and “The Power Mover.” Together, they tackle 11 key situations—from handshakes to Zoom cameras, thank-you notes to leadership respect—and uncover where the old rules still hold power and where new approaches are winning in today’s business world.

This is etiquette reimagined: practical, solution-focused, and global.

✅ Key Takeaways

→ First impressions still matter—but speed is the new courtesy.

→ Standing to greet someone communicates respect, yet context can change the expectation.

→ Punctuality remains respect for time, but flexibility is part of modern professionalism.

→ Thank-you notes haven’t died; they’ve evolved into digital gratitude.

→ Leadership etiquette is less about formality, more about consistent respect in action.

💬 Memorable Quotes

“Etiquette isn’t about forks and napkins—it’s how we signal respect.”

“Speed is the new courtesy.”

“Respect never goes out of style; only the delivery changes.”

🎧 Which side are you on—old rules or new power moves?

Join the conversation on LinkedIn and share your biggest etiquette dilemma.

Your scenario could star in our next AI debate!

When does “Dear Mr. Patel” show respect—and when does “Hi Raj” show better judgment? Today’s debate dives into the etiquette gap between generations.

In this Professional Global Etiquette Debate, AI voices examine the tension between formal, title-driven politeness and the younger generation's push for casual authenticity. One side argues that structure and rituals (such as greetings, honorifics, and hierarchy) prevent offense and protect careers; the other contends that sincerity, speed, and a context-aware tone build trust faster—especially on digital channels like Slack. We examine first impressions, power distance, email versus chat norms, and how global culture (Tokyo versus Stockholm) influences the “right” answer, as presented by Professional Global Etiquette, founded by Adrienne Barker, MAS.

Key Takeaways

→ Default up when uncertain: start formal with new contacts; relax by mirroring their tone.

→ Titles signal earned expertise in many settings; in others, first names signal partnership.

→ Channel matters: email tolerates formality; Slack/Teams reward concise, warm clarity.

→ Culture flips the script: honorifics in high power-distance regions vs. first-name norms in Scandinavia.

→ Authenticity without awareness reads careless; formality without sincerity reads robotic.

→ Practical rule: ask preferences, mirror back, and calibrate for role, risk, and relationship stage.

Share this episode and tag @Professional Global Etiquette. Book a workshop on bridging generational etiquette gaps with Adrienne Barker, MAS.