Celebrating National Protocol Officers week!

As I write this blog post, we are celebrating the beginning of National Protocol Officers Week, which takes place during the last full week of March each year. The week was established to recognize the work of protocol professionals around the world, giving visibility to those who work tirelessly to ensure that diplomatic and organizational relationships are nurtured through meeting planning, event execution, and many other tasks.

As a protocol officer, I am grateful for an opportunity each year to shine a light on the protocol profession. It is not frequently in the spotlight, therefore many people aren’t even aware of this important work. So often I hear “I didn’t know that there is such a job as a protocol officer!” when I meet new people and tell them about what I do.

By its very nature, the work of a protocol officer is not only behind the scenes but is also invisible when it is at its best. If you stop and think about it, we only hear about protocol when something has gone wrong. National anthems are sung incorrectly. Flags are out of order or hung upside down. National leaders are not recognized equally with their counterparts. The list goes on and on — and these errors take on a life of their own, becoming an enormous distraction from the real reason for the meeting or event.

It might be easy to dismiss such errors as simple gaffes and to think that those involved should just laugh them off and move on. However, the reality is that failing to pay attention to details means failing to give the appropriate respect to the country or organization and those who represent it. Demonstrating a lack of care for the small details damages the trust and the expectation that you will nurture the relationship. The other party can no longer assume you will give attention to the big things that might mean the difference between a successful partnership and an inability to work together.

Protocol officers and others in the field have a reputation of being fussy about small details. And we are. When we obsess over the correct colors for flags, the correct order of speaking, the correct arrangement of seating, and all the other minutiae that seem unimportant, these things do not distract from the strategic goals of our principals. Having the “small things” done right opens the time and space for everyone to concentrate on the big picture and the discussions or decisions that affect our world.

Thank you to all of my fellow protocol officers throughout the world! Your dedication, attention, and care make all the difference!