ETIQUETTE- Reflection of Politeness

“If they respect you, respect them, if they do not respect you, still you respect them. Do not allow the action of others to decrease your good Manners, because you represent yourself not others” -Mohammad Zeyare

What is etiquette –

Etiquette is the manner, behavior, politeness, kindness, and integrity of any individual. Which we learn during our upbringing by following certain habits and practices.

History of Etiquette-The ‘etiquette’ is a French word, the meaning is placard or signs to post or print.

The etiquette began in the French royal courts in the 1600s and 1700s.

When king Louis XIV’s gardener at Versailles revealed that the upper classes were walking on through his garden and damaging the trees & flowers, he put up signs, or “etiquette,” (placards) to warn them off.

The king of France, Louis XIV (1638–1715) used this policy further to his benefit. He codified a set of rules for etiquette to set his political position stronger. He would print the little card or “etiquette” to guide palace visitors on the rules for appropriate behavior. For example, these cards display where people were allowed to sit during dinners, dress codes, etc. These signs or cards, and etiquette spread throughout Europe as dignities who visited the palace at Versailles became overwhelmed with these social norms.

Now in the 21st Century, Etiquette is an utmost desired attribute of human being professionally as well as socially.

Now let us understand Etiquette and its importance in more detail-

Why Etiquette is Significant?

Etiquette is all about manners, behavior, politeness, and kindness.

In today’s world, we have to always interact, and communicate on a different platform, where etiquette plays a very important role to create the first impression resultant in our internal happiness or sadness.

Etiquette comforts and helps us to understand how to treat others courteously and politely in any situation or relevant occasion. By doing so we make others feel comfortable.

Etiquette is more than “Thank you and Please”

Types of Etiquette?

There are different types of etiquette, however mainly-

• Business etiquette

• Workplace etiquette

• Communication(email) etiquette

• Professional(meeting) etiquette

• Social etiquette

• Travel etiquette

• Flight etiquette

• Cross-Cultural Global Sensitivity etiquette –

· Dining etiquette

Business Etiquette-

• Self-Introduction- One should stand and self-introduce with a smiling face and eye-to-eye contact.

· Hand Shake- web-to-web firm grip with eye contact at a distance of one & half feet (Forearm horizontal to body position) with a clean & dry hand, two to three pumps with a smile.

That will impress the confident personality, reliable person, etiquette, and prodigious first impression.

· Group Introduction- The Person of greatest Importance or any Authority or Client is first to be introduced to the group. Gender or age is not the deciding factor.

• Exchanging Business Card- The Business card is a very important tool to present self & the Organisation, it should be exchanged with the desired etiquette.

• While receiving the Business card should be held by edge, should be thanked & read the card, if appropriate to be appreciated for the logo and design, need to understand for further communication how to be communicated, and never Business card be placed in the pocket without reading. If the Business card is received before the meeting, then the business card is to be placed on the table according to the sitting position to remember the name to identify who is speaking.

• Before offering the card we must say “may I offer my business card to you”, the Business card should be offered in a standing position and hold the business card by an edge in the right hand, and the card’s text direction should be the right way to read by the receiver.

• So, few do & don’t on Business Card-

Do: Sufficient quantities of Business cards to be carried by the cardholder, Readability of Business cards is most important than design with updated information. When we meet first time someone it is ok to ask for a Business card from them but if the person is of a higher position, must wait to offer the Business card.

Don’t- Never scribble anything on the Business Card and hand out torn or Worn business card

• Meeting Etiquette- Punctual about meeting time, Dress Appropriately, Phone to be Silent not on the table, while introduction Speak Clearly not loudly with a smiling face & eye contact, listen with undivided attention, material, notes, and PowerPoint presentation be organized & kept ready in need, if there is predefined sitting arrangement need to accept, if not sure need to ask, MOM is to be prepared, During meeting no phone call to make or receive, if not avoidable then to be excused and step out to make or receive a phone call, Not to interrupt the speaker unless speaker encourages the interaction while asking question hand to be raised and to wait till turn.

• Work Place Etiquette — self-office image & business image starts with the way we present ourselves. In an office not be a casual dress, always have a smiling face, Positive Talk, No Criticism or complaint, should always have a proactive approach, not reactive action, solution to be found in an amicable manner, people & situations should be appreciated & accepted and to be maintained decent environment, No Noise should be created in an office environment or shout across the cubicles, should not have smelly food, strong perfume which disturbs others not to stand & speak in front of someone’s cubicle, Not to enter into cubicle when someone is in the phone call, Office protocol to be followed, not to pull down others, Ego should be kept aside in office.

• Email Etiquette- email Subject should be appropriate to the matter under discussion, relevant people only to be marked in “To”, “CC”, and no jargon should be used like LOL, ASAP, etc, while replying need to check the list of correct receivers list, Body matter to be specific only. No undesired trail mail should be attached, before sending the mail one should relook into the correct recipient’s list & mail body parts, in mail unnecessary Capital Letters not be used, Capital letters indicate SHOUTING, and No Offensive Remark should be used in mail, No Confidential information should be mailed. After receiving the mail at first always should be acknowledged and informed response timeline. Details response can be sent later on. This is a good way of communication & good habit. Responding to mail on time is good etiquette. Also, It is a good practice if we put the mail id after completion of the writing mail to avoid pressing the “SEND“ button by mistake.

• Mobile etiquette-it is always better not to have the Show off, during meetings to keep the mobile phone in silent mode, Caller & Ring Tone type and volume should be used as appropriate, before calling anyone it is appropriate to get consent for call & time. Consent is also applicable if we use the Camera in a business meeting, in running a Phone call before holding the call we must take permission from the other person who will be kept on hold.

• Travel Etiquette- before traveling to any new country for business purposes we must learn about the place we are going, know about the culture & how to greet, a little about Local Language to know about greetings, etc. never criticize the food and country, About the gesture, it is always better to be watchful, Different Gesture have different meanings in countries

• Flight Etiquette- Decent dress with a little style and color can add the charm, To exhibit Good behavior to the airline’s employees, to be in Q for things ready for security check & Scan, Flight boarding should be in an orderly manner, Overhead Luggage to be settled as quickly as possible. Inflight Protocol & rules are to be followed as & when announced, in flight the Conversation should be done at a normal Sound level so the other passengers will not be bothered. During exit should be in an orderly fashion.

• Cross-Cultural Sensitivity –Global Etiquette knowledge is very important to know, different countries are having different cultures and social practices, and if we do not know then can create misunderstanding, knowing what to do and what to avoid will save us always from an embarrassing situation, demonstrating the appropriate business and social etiquette is a very important tool to the successful global business & interactions.

• Dining Etiquette- it is one of the very important etiquette to learn to be recognized as a good social being, dining etiquette like, never should create Smacking noises, avoiding burping and should Eat slowly without any sound, and Chewing with your mouth closed condition and not talking with food in the mouth.

Below are a few examples of dining table etiquette -

“Diamond get their real value only after heavy polishing till glow enough, similarly humans also can increase their value after practicing the Proper Etiquette and Mannerisms”

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