Manners and Etiquette

Who needs them? 

                             

The short answer is we all do!

 

        Dictionary.com defines manners as the "prevailing customs, ways of living, and habits

of a people, class, period, etc or ways of behaving with reference to polite standards,

social comportment." (1 Manners)

        Sociologists define manners as an "unenforced standard of conduct which shows the

actor to be cultured, polite, and refined." (2 Manners)

        Manners ease the stress of living in a community and give one the right to share

common space. Saying "Excuse me" after you brush up against another person shows that

you recognize that you have invaded their space.

        The definition of etiquette is similar. It is "the code that governs the expectations of

social behavior, or the conventional norm." (Etiquette)

        "Etiquette fundamentally prescribes and restricts the ways in which people interact

with each other, and show their respect for other people  by conforming to the norms of

society." (Etiquette)

       Keep in mind that if you are traveling outside of the country, what is acceptable

here may not be looked at favorably in other places.

•  In South Africa, talking with your hands in your pockets is considered rude.

•  Jordanians feel the bottoms of feet or shoes are dirty and should not be shown.

•  In Taiwan the phrase "Have you eaten" means the same as "How are you."

        To succeed in business, and in life, as an employee, a boss, a member of the

community, students should learn to practice good manners.

        Etiquette, as described by the online journal, The Business Journal,  is "more than

good manners - it is the overall behavior, attitude, and grooming." (Wagner)

        Here are some interesting statistics on how you are judged by first impression:

1.  55% is based on your appearance

2.  35% is based on your tone of voice

3.  7% is based on your words (Wagner)

        The information in this website should be used as a reference point. Links are

provided for future study.

        We will touch on eight areas that are critical to success as an individual in business

and personal endeavors. These are:

Introductions	Eye Contact	Telephone Manners	Table Manners
Please & Thank you	Dress	"Ladies First"	Confidence

        Or go to the Table of Contents page for a Site Map.

        Click the links in the bank to the right or at the bottom of the page to study the

content.

        When you are finished reading through the sites try your hand at the Quiz.
 

 

Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot. ~~Clarence Thomas

 

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Home | Introductions | Eye Contact | Telephone Manners | Table Manners | Please & Thank you | Dress | "Ladies First" | Confidence | Quiz | Table of Contents

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Works cited

"Etiquette." Wikipedia. 30 Nov. 2006. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. 6 Dec. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette>.

1 "Manners." Dictionary.Com. 6 Dec. 2006 <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/manners>.

2 "Manners." Wikipedia. 3 Dec. 2006. Wikipedia Foundation, In. 6 Dec. 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manners>.

Wagner, Eileen B. "Good Manners are Good for Business." The Business Journal Phoenix (2001). 6 Dec. 2006 <http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2001/01/29/smallb3.html>.