Social etiquette involves proper behavior in everyday interactions, excluding table manners. It’s easy to learn and starts with greeting someone with a handshake, eye contact, and a smile. Avoid controversial topics and be polite by saying “please” and “thank you.” Don’t use technology during face-to-face conversations and remember people’s names. Bring a small gift to dinner parties and practice common politeness.
Social etiquette generally refers to proper behavior in everyday interactions with other people, but not table etiquette, which is referred to as dinner etiquette or table manners. Demonstrating good social etiquette is extremely important, but the good news is that it’s very easy to learn. In general, one of the best tips for proper etiquette is also the golden rule: treat people the way you would like to be treated.
Social etiquette begins when you first meet someone. It is polite to stand up to greet someone and offer your right hand for a handshake. Previously, men would not offer to shake a woman’s hand unless she offered it first, but that is no longer the case. Anyone can and should offer to shake hands with someone they’ve just met. A handshake shouldn’t be too firm or too loose, and the palms should be touching, not just the fingers.
It’s also important to make eye contact and smile as sincerely as possible. When starting a conversation with someone, try to have interesting topics to discuss or ask a few questions. Make an effort to make follow-up comments or ask questions while someone is speaking to show interest, but don’t interrupt. In general, it’s a good idea to avoid burning issues like politics and religion unless there’s a good reason to bring them up.
Social etiquette also extends to technology. When having a face-to-face conversation with a person, it is considered bad manners to answer a phone call or even watch or send a text message. If you absolutely must take a call or respond to a text message, make a polite excuse to leave the conversation and return the call or send a private message.
Some of the most basic rules of social etiquette are the most effective. Being polite always saying “please” and “thank you” goes a long way. Another important point is to make an effort to remember people’s names. When invited to a dinner party, it is polite to bring a small gift for the host and hostess, unless specifically instructed not to. Take off a hat when you’re indoors, cover your mouth and nose, and excuse yourself after coughing or sneezing. When you’re confused in a situation that calls for good social etiquette, just remember that common politeness will go a long way, and people are much more likely to recall favorably a genuine attempt to be polite and respectful.
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