Etiquette

The rules of proper etiquette and protocol have been around for years, but they are far more important in this day and age than ever before. Implementing proper etiquette and protocol skills into everyday life should be habit for everyone – including children. After all, a person who displays proper etiquette not only feels good about himself, he also makes those around him feel important and respected.

Did you know that an impression is made within the first seven seconds of meeting someone? Seven seconds is an extremely small amount of time, so you must rely on your etiquette skills and social graces to ace that first impression. Are you up-to-date with these skills? Well, it is never too early, or too late, to start.

Having social grace means that you can maneuver through any situation with ease; whether you are in an interview or on a dinner date you will have confidence and put your companion at ease. For instance, at a dinner table, you will know which fork to use, how to eat bread, and where to place your napkin. A great example of how it feels not to know proper etiquette is in the movie Pretty Woman. Remember when Julia Roberts wasn’t sure how to use her appetizer utensil? She was visibly unsure of herself, and she had to look around at the other diners to figure out what to do. You can save yourself this embarrassment by becoming well versed in social etiquette.

Obviously, proper etiquette is important in a social setting, but it is crucial in a business setting. In order to achieve business success, you must be able to adapt to ever-changing situations and act with confidence. Displaying proper etiquette will get you noticed and, obviously, being noticed is great for business! For example – There are two people being interviewed for a top position at a large company. One is late and not dressed appropriately. What is more, he makes the mistake of not making eye contact when speaking to the interviewer. But the other prospect is early for the appointment and dressed in a suit. He also makes the effort to be assertive and eager during the interview. Who do you think will be chosen for the top position? The person who displays proper business etiquette will always have the edge in such situations!