Education is a set of values, teachings and skills that allow you to make friends, be successful in your professional life and be respectful towards others. If you already know good manners, you will probably want to put them to good use at a dinner party, a business event, or in life in general. You can be polite by greeting suitably and showing politeness and bon ton with words and behavior.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Greet Politely
Step 1. Smile when you greet someone
When you meet or greet someone for the first time, surprise them with a warm smile. That way, he'll know you're in a good mood and happy to see him. In addition, you will have the possibility to create a friendly atmosphere from the beginning.
Step 2. Say hi by saying "hello"
Instead of walking past someone you know or ignoring who you normally meet, greet them with a hearty "hello". You don't have to wait for others to greet you first. Take the initiative.
Say: "Hi, Mr. Rossi. Glad to meet you! My name is Marco Rinaldi and I work in the branch of computer security"
Step 3. Shake hands firmly and assertively
When you get to know someone, grab their hand firmly, moving it up and down once. If you know him well, you might as well hug him. Try to practice a little so as not to overdo it with force and squeeze people's hands.
In the world there are various ways to greet people, and not all of them always require the use of the hand. So, make sure you know what the appropriate gesture is in the country you live in. If in doubt, do an internet search to find out
Step 4. Make eye contact with the person you are talking to
During a conversation, look your interlocutor in the eye almost half the time you have the word. It is a sign of education that demonstrates listening skills. However, if you start staring, you could be creepy and rude.
Look away from time to time to avoid staring
Part 2 of 3: Speak Politely
Step 1. Say "please" and "thank you"
When asking someone for a favor, always add "please" and don't forget to say "thank you" if someone has done something for you. Let others know how much you appreciate and value their intervention.
- You might say, "Honey, could you go and collect your clothes from the laundry, please?"
- In other cases: "Thank you for receiving that business communication promptly for me."
Step 2. Don't hesitate to chat
If you are too direct, you may be rude. Instead of getting into business right away or having a serious discussion with someone, have a little conversation first. Ask your interlocutor how he is doing, if his children are okay or if he liked the Thai restaurant where he ate for lunch. Talk about the movies or TV shows you've seen lately, but also the books you're reading. This way, you will be able to break the ice.
- Try saying: "Hello, Mr. Perini! How is your day going?". After he replies, you might add, "Well, was he on his lunch break? What did he eat?"
- Try to remember the confidences that your interlocutor made to you, such as the name of his wife or children, his birthday or the date of an anniversary. He pays attention to other issues and more difficult events in his life.
- Listen carefully and pay attention to what he tells you. Don't interrupt him when he talks, but show your interest by asking questions.
- Avoid expressing yourself in dialect and using an unfamiliar vocabulary. If you are discussing a complex topic, be careful not to speak arrogantly.
Step 3. Be respectful when talking to older people
In many areas, calling elders by their first names can be viewed as disrespectful. In these cases, use "Mr." and "Mrs." if you do not know the job title or marital status of your interlocutor.
- If he begs you to call him by name, don't hesitate to do so.
- Use these titles with people who are at least 15 years older than you.
Step 4. Congratulate
When someone gets good results at something they have worked hard to do, express your compliments. If you meet an acquaintance at the grocery store who just graduated, married, or got a promotion, congratulate them. You might be rude if you don't have this attention.
Learn to recognize moments of sadness too. If you know that she recently suffered a death in the family, express your condolences
Step 5. Pay attention to your language
While you can indulge in some swearing in front of your friends or in the privacy of your home, avoid doing so in certain situations. If you are in church, school, work or hanging out with people you don't know well, moderate your language.
Step 6. Don't indulge in gossip
Even if you will be tempted to indiscretion about who you know, avoid it. A polite person does not spread humiliating rumors about others, whether they are well founded or not. If you find yourself with people who are gossiping, change the subject or walk away.
Step 7. Apologize when you're wrong
Although a polite person avoids making a bad impression, it is not necessarily perfect. When you make a mistake, immediately apologize in the most sincere way. Explain that you are sorry and promise yourself not to make the same mistake again in the future.
For example, suppose you bailed out on a friend over the weekend when you had been planning on going to a party for some time. Tell him, "I'm very sorry about what happened on Friday. I was very tired after work and just wanted to sleep. Anyway I know I was wrong, so I'm sorry. Let's go out together next weekend!"
Part 3 of 3: Behave politely
Step 1. Be on time
Respect the time others give you. If you have a meeting or date with someone, try to arrive at least five minutes early. You never know if you can find traffic along the way, so be prepared to leave the house early.
Step 2. Dress appropriately for the occasion
When you are invited somewhere, check if the invitation indicates a particular dress code. If you are unsure, use your favorite search engine to search for the term used by the event organizer or host to get some more precise ideas.
- For example, if it is a casual business event, you may want to wear a nice shirt, pants or skirt. You can also put on a jacket or cardigan.
- Make sure your clothes are clean and ironed.
Step 3. Don't neglect personal hygiene
In addition to clothes, take care of your body. Shower every day and apply cream and deodorant. Wash your hair, keep it tidy and prevent it from falling on your face, giving you an unkempt look.
Step 4. Observe the people around you when in doubt
How do they greet and address each other? Where do they store their coat? What topics do they discuss? In every context, there are social rules that determine what is polite and what is not. So if you don't know them, watch the organizer or host and guests to get a better idea.
Step 5. Learn table manners
Regarding the cutlery, the use proceeds from the outside to the inside. Place the napkin on your legs. On the table, do not place anything other than what you found when you sat down (cell phone, glasses, jewelry). Put the bag between your feet, slightly under the chair. Don't fix your makeup while you're at the dinner table, so if you want to do a touch-up or check to see if something is stuck in your teeth, go to the bathroom.
- Do not start eating if all diners have not been served.
- Chew with your mouth closed and do not speak if it is full.
- Avoid foods with unpleasant odors that plague your breath.
- Don't make noises while eating the soup.
- Do not rest your elbows on the table and do not reach out to take what you want. Ask others if they can pass you what you need.
- Don't play with your hair.
- Don't put your fingers in your mouth and don't bite your nails.
- Don't touch your ears or nose.
Advice
- Do not interrupt people while they are talking to someone else or are busy with something.
- Treat everyone the same, regardless of their background, ethnic background, appearance, and so on.
- If you wear it, raise your hat when you greet someone, walk into a room and they play or sing the national anthem.
