mardi 27 mai 2014

An Introduction To Basic Manners And Etiquette

By Marci Glover


The term etiquette can sound quaint and old fashioned. However in the modern world manners are more important than ever. With more forms of technology there are more potential ways you could offend people. Therefore it is vital to be aware of basic manners and etiquette.

The most basic thing to do is to say please and thank you. In simple terms you are asking someone for something and they have to give it to you. If someone is serving you food in a restaurant it does not matter that it is their job you should still be polite to them. Saying thank you also shows you appreciate what you have been given.

Punctuality is also an important issue. In the modern era it has become a lot easier to plan journeys. A quick check using your computer or smart phone will allow you to find out about any potential delays, when the buses and trains arrive and so forth. This will make it easier to plan ahead, preferably planning so you can arrive early in case of any delays.

This is also the case when it comes to manners. If you are in doubt sense the tone. The idea of good manners is to put people at their ease. In general it is best to engage with people as much as possible. For example you should not take a phone call in the middle of a conversation. If the call is important you should excuse yourself first and then come back to the table, preferably by quickly addressing the problem, saying you will call the person back and then getting back to the person you are with as soon as possible.

You need to ensure that children are aware of manners as much as possible. They should learn to say thank you for gifts they get, take their shoes off before going to a house and so forth. Learning early on means they are more likely to be polite as they get older and with any luck pass on those lessons to their children and so forth.

With regard to phones there is a whole array of etiquette to be aware of. It is best to either set them to silent or turn them off. Taking a call in the middle of a meeting or while talking can be very rude as the inference is that this call is more important than the person you are talking to.

Another complication is that some actions that were previously considered polite can be considered patronising now. A good example is opening doors. Some women can find patronising if you open doors just for them. A better approach is to open doors for everyone as this is just general politeness.

In simple terms being polite and having good manners is not about being a pushover. It is about being able to maintain self control and put people at their ease regardless of whether they are a valet picking up your car or a potential investor in your company. Check online for more information about specific etiquette for various social situations to help you overcome any unintentional social embarrassment.




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