Sharpening edges

'Ecole Solitaire' is a residential finishing school conducting programmes starting from basic etiquette to entertaining guests and developing self-confidence. The school boasts of training employees of companies like KPMG, Satyam, Tata Honey Well, BPL, Maharashtra State Police Training Academy and students, housewives and individuals. Education Times spoke to the founder director, Minocher Patel, about the school and the role of a pleasing personality.What is a finishing school? Finishing School is an institution which grooms an individual in basic manners, communication and presentation skills. Furthermore, it instils self-confidence and a positive attitude in them. How would you define a good personality? A pleasant individual is a one who is comfortable with himself. Factors like politeness, attitude, goals and manners add to it. Being a good individual is a prime factor in building a good and pleasing personality. What is the need of such programmes as yours? Most people have the requisite knowledge and intelligence but what they lack is effective projection of the same. Employees are the brand ambassadors of the companies they work for and are greatly responsible for projecting its image. Therefore, companies make their employees attend such programmes to add value to their skills and knowledge. Don't you think such kind of training should be imparted right from the school days? Such programmes are the need of the day and should be made a part of the school curriculum. Our education system doesn't build confidence rather it takes it away from students. What are the programmes you offer? We conduct various residential and non-residential programmes for corporates, students and individuals. The course includes a complete orientation of the factors that go into building a pleasing and a well-mannered personality. The duration of the programmes vary from a day to one week. www.ecolesolitaire.com