Etiquette assistant: Professionalism lies in the details
Every step had to be steady—neither too fast nor too slow—with a 30-centimetre distance between each stride. Held the tray with both hands, keeping the upper arms a fist's distance from the waist, and one must bow slightly when presenting it. Eight teeth should be visible when smiling. The National Games had its own etiquette standards for etiquette assistant. Embracing a desire to broaden her horizons, Yanice Situ, Assistant Human Resources Manager (Training & Development) of the Kowloon Central Cluster (photo below), stepped onto the stage of the National Games as an etiquette assistant.
A total of 75 etiquette assistants served at the Hong Kong venues of the National Games, guiding guests in presenting medals and mascots to the athletes and coaches in the award ceremony. After rigorous selection, training, and assessment, Yanice was appointed to the role. Her first duty took place at the Kai Tak Arena, where she served as an etiquette assistant for the men's handball award ceremony.
"What an etiquette assistant requires is excellent adaptability," says Yanice. "No matter how many times you rehearse, there will always be unexpected situation during the actual situation." She explains that smooth coordination with guests was crucial to avoid time discrepancy when stepping onto the stage, even for just a few seconds. Another challenge was timing—knowing exactly when to present the medal and mascot. Some guests took longer to place medals on the athletes, and if the etiquette assistant guided the following guest to the stage too early, it could result in both presenters getting stuck on stage. Such seemingly minor details were exactly what etiquette assistants expected to manage.
Yanice describes the experience as unforgettable. From not knowing each other to collaborating with mutual trust, the etiquette assistants developed strong teamwork through training and rehearsals. They observed and stepped in for each other with teamwork and trust. Yanice also praises their team leader for managing her emotions to achieve inclusive decision-making—something she found worth learning. "It was an experience money cannot buy," she laughs.
