If you have good etiquette and good manners, generally speaking, you will put other people at ease. Good etiquette is really about making people feel comfortable.
Basic Etiquette
Saying Please and Thank You
Please can reduce the harshness of a request and show respect. For example, ‘Please read the attached document and sign the agreement by Monday,’ or ‘Could you please open the door?’ Thanking someone can show appreciation and honour their efforts. For example, ‘Thank you for your time.’
Table Etiquette
Only start eating your meal after everyone else is seated and has been served, and the host has started eating their meal.
Carrying Plates
If you are carrying plates and drinks, only carry as many as you can easily manage.
Speaking with Someone Else
Wait until the other person has finished speaking before you start speaking.
When You are Conversing
Remember, if possible, never to use the things said in a conversation against the person who confided in you.
Squeezing a Lemon
Shield your lemon with the other hand while squeezing it.
Burping
If you are not in a culture where burping is thought of as a compliment, keep burps to a minimum. Try to cover your mouth a little to reduce the sound.
The Napkin
If you have the type of napkin that can be easily stained, after you have finished using the napkin, gently fold it and put it to the left of your plate.
Emails
Try not to send one-word emails such as ‘Thanks!’ If you have something to say, write complete sentences.
Posting on Social Media
You generally should not be posting pictures of others on social media without asking the person. Try to never say anything online that you would not say in person.
Voicemail
Limit voicemails, but if you do leave a voicemail message, try to keep the message brief and to the point.
Communication
If you notice someone does or says something you do not agree with, avoid harsh reactions or name-calling. Instead, respond kindly. If you are in a conversation with someone and do not agree with something they are saying, you could say, ‘I can understand why you think that, even if I do not agree.’
Social Commitments
Think well before committing to something, and do not commit to something or agree to something if you already know you will not be able to honour that commitment. Just agreeing to do something which you know you cannot do in order to be polite is not actually polite. You will be committing to something you will not be able to do, and later on down the track you will not be able to keep your word.
Conversation
Try not to do all the talking. Do more listening than talking. Try to paraphrase the other person often so that they know that you are listening. Do not ask too many questions, or questions that are too personal. You should keep your personal life personal, and not disclose too much about yourself. Try to talk about topics which you think could interest both of you. At the end of the conversation, you could finish by thanking the person for taking the time to speak with you, or saying that you found the conversation interesting and you would like to speak again soon. If you have to end the conversation for some reason, you could say, ‘I am sorry that I have to end our conversation. Can we continue our conversation soon?’ Or you could say, ‘Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I have really enjoyed our chat and hope we can catch up again soon.’
Phone
If you are with other people, put away your phone. Set it to vibrate rather than ring. If you are with others, it is polite to give others attention instead of your phone. If you are in a public place and urgently need to check your texts, try to withdraw to a private place to do so.
Phone Use in Public
If you are speaking on the phone in a public place, try to keep the conversation from being too loud or too long.
Filming
If you are filming, try to respect others’ privacy. Even if someone does something out of the ordinary, which might embarrass them, try not to film it and use it as your next big draw card on social media. Think about how you would feel if someone did that to you. If you are at a wedding ceremony, do not film with your phone. Instead, wait until after the ceremony or the reception to take some nice photographs.
Cinema / Movie Theatre or Similar
Try to limit talking and texting when in a movie theatre. Silence your phone or turn it off when in a movie theatre, a library, a church, or any similar public place.
RSVP
If someone invites you to a party, event, or wedding, RSVP by the date given, well in advance of the event.
Hosting
Ask your guests about their food preferences first.
Giving Gifts When Unsure
Attach a gift receipt (if possible, so the purchase price is not visible to the recipient) when you give it to them so that they can always take it back to the shop you bought it from if they do not like it.
Dress
Try to dress appropriately for whatever event you attend.
When You Are Leaving an Event
Do not just leave. Try to say thank you and goodbye properly, before you go.
When Given a Gift or Card
Saying thank you by text or in person is a good response to being given a gift or card.