Etiquette! Mannerisms! Social Meet and Greets Contexts!
If you want to be the best, stop acting like the rest!
I have greatly been stupefied by the lack of these among people of various generations. How much does it cost to give an eye contact, or to smile or to just have decent chivalry and good etiquette from time to time?
I have been feeling so strongly about this that I discussed on the same with my Mom for hours and on. I deeply feel that many have to be reminded of the ways of socialization and the art of conversation when the platform and context require them. Manners cost us nothing; yet, earn us respect when we use them.
If you are the kind who goes all "who gives a fuck about people, why should I be something I am not," or even "I'm too timid and introverted for this, you may very well stop reading right here. But that would make of you a very sorry person without self-love. After all, one of the important aspects of personality development and personal grooming is etiquette and mannerism.
1. Be an ambassador of positivity and goodness! You don't have to be a people pleaser, but you sure do have to make yourself pleasant! The best to do that is to make people feel good about themselves!
2. Make introductions! Don't gang up on anybody anywhere. It's horrible. If you suddenly meet someone out of the blue in the supermarket or in a restaurant while lunching and you are with someone else, you introduce the person you are with. It's the least you can do to show that you respect people. Manage introductions with grace. If you're with two people who don't know each other, but you know both of them, it's your responsibility to make the introduction of good manners.
3. Have a strong agenda! You can't meet up with people uselessly. Introspect what you have to talk about, what you have to share, it's all part of the game.
4. Understand the unwritten speaking rules! It's not polite to interrupt others - it's selfish and ill-mannered. Don't swear - it impresses nobody - it's the language of low lives and those with a limited vocabulary.
5. Do not have your phone out! And even if you have to take your phone out, you ask for permission from your interlocutor! It's terrifically rude to simply start staring at a screen when someone's right in front of you. You've got a call to attend to, need to glance quickly at the time, you make sure to inform the person before breaking eye contact! Manners, people!
6. Thank you/ I'm Sorry/ Please! I'm pretty sure we've been ferociously taught these basics in Kindergarten. Make use of them, please! Thank you very much.
7. Body Language! When someone stands up, you stand up. It's bad to sit down when someone else is standing up, it's the height of rudeness. Sure thing, it's acceptable to really close friends and close family, but not with acquaintances. It's horrendous to watch people display this form of disrespect at its peak.
8. Courtesy! With opening the door and pulling out a chair: these have nothing to do with gender. Whoever arrives first gets the door and the chair, as simple as that. I have pulled chairs and gotten the door for male and female counterparts so many times. You open the door, hold it and allow them to walk through and then you walk last, right behind. Having a protective stance for your 'guest' is important even if you were the one invited!
9. Know what to discuss and what to avoid! Safe spots are not family, religion or heated topics. The perfect talks are health, music, general culture and future plans!
10. Congratulate people! Appreciate people. Offer your congratulations to someone who's just made a big accomplishment (such as graduating or being promoted), has added to his or her family (such as getting married or having a child), or has otherwise done something worthy of praise. People that you praised will be inspired and touched because of you. They will also do this when you achieved something.
11. Thank You Notes! Whenever anyone gives you a gift or does something particularly nice for you, send him or her a thank-you note within a few days. Write how thankful you are for the specific gift or action, and how delighted you are to have the other person's friendship.
12. Phone Calls. --" If you suddenly bump into someone while you are on the phone and can't really talk to them straight away, you ask your caller to give you a second and you very quickly excuse yourself with the person you just saw. The latter will definitely understand and you can continue with your phone business. Never ever turn your back on people in real life.
People don't care how much you know; they don't care how rich you are. They just need to know how much you care. And caring about others is what manners are all about. Think about that. It will improve your relationships with people immeasurably when you show them that you care about them!
