Five Tips To Developing Good Manners

By:


The busier we get, the more manners tend to fall to the wayside. Take a minute to brush up on the basics of how to behave, and more importantly, how not to behave when dealing with others.

1. Please and thank you. We were all taught these words pretty much before we learned to walk, and with good reason. Civilized conversations need to show respect for others. When you ask, rather than tell, someone to do something for you the entire interaction goes over much better. Another basic manner is to shake hands when being introduced to someone and make sure that you introduce the person standing next to you, as well.

2. Table manners to live by. You probably already know never to talk with your mouth full of food, be we all need a reminder now and then. What you have to say will wait until you enjoy the bite you have just taken. Your napkin should stay on your lap when not in use until you have completed your meal, and your elbows should never rest on the table. Another biggie is to leave the room before blowing your nose every single time.

3. Behaving in public. Even if you are by yourself walking down the street, there are ways that you can show respect for others instead of pushing your own agenda on them. If, for example, you get caught up in a line or traffic, show patience. Your destination usually isn't any more important than anyone else's. When in a movie theater, always turn your cell phone off and don't disturb those around you by eating loudly.

4. Entertaining. There are plenty of things to remember about manners when playing host or hostess. If you receive gifts, write a thank-you note soon after the event to express gratitude for the thoughtfulness. Make sure that your guests feel welcome and are introduced to everyone in the room. Offer refreshments soon after guests arrive and never ask them to remove their shoes. Think about it, you wouldn't ask someone to take part of their outfit off, would you? Shoes are part of an outfit. Clean your carpets regularly instead. Another key to hosting events that are fun for all is to keep the conversation from getting into sticky areas like religion or politics.

5. Manners shine through over the phone. Answering machines and voicemail have proven to be a great tool in connecting with people. However, they can also be a source of rudeness if you're not careful. Don't let your young children take over the duties of leaving the family message. Cute to some, annoying to most, these tasks are better left to adults who can be brief and to the point. Make sure there is no annoying background noise to get in the way of clear communication. If you make it simple for people to reach you and say what they need to say, it's all good.

About the Author:
Julie Robinson writes on general interest and education topics including accredited online colleges and scholarships for academic performance.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Self-Improvement Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.