The older you get, the more you see in life. And it never ceases to amaze me how oblivious to good manners people can be without even realising it. My mother told me that if I wanted to see the true measure of a person to look at how they treat people who serve them – waitresses, receptionists, bus drivers. She was a smart woman.
- Don’t call someone more than twice continuously. If they don’t pick up your call, presume they have something important to attend to.
- Return money that you have borrowed even before the person who loaned it to you remembers or asks for it. It shows your integrity and character. The same goes for umbrellas, pens, and lunch boxes.
- Never order the expensive dish on the menu when someone is treating you to lunch or dinner.
- Always open the door for the person coming behind you. It doesn’t matter if it is a guy or a girl, senior or junior. You don’t grow small by treating someone well in public.
- If you take a taxi with a friend and he/she pays now, try paying next time.
- Respect different shades of opinions. Remember, what may seem like 6 to you might appear as 9 to someone else.
- Never interrupt people while they are talking. Allow them to pour it out. As they say, hear them all and filter them all.
- If you tease someone, and they don’t seem to enjoy it, stop it and never do it again. It encourages one to do more and shows how appreciative you are.
- Say “thank you” when someone is helping you.
- When someone shows you a photo on their phone, don’t swipe left or right unless you know it’s okay. You never know what’s next.
- If a colleague tells you they have a doctor’s appointment, don’t ask what it’s for, just say “I hope you’re okay.” Don’t put them in the uncomfortable position of having to tell you their personal illness. If they want you to know, they’ll do so without your inquisitiveness.
- Treat the cleaner with the same respect as the CEO. Nobody is impressed by how rudely you treat someone below you, but people will notice if you treat them with respect.
- If a person is speaking directly to you, staring at your phone is rude.
- After reading a good message, consider saying “Thanks for the message.”
- Don’t ‘always’ forget your wallet