Social Etiquette and Good Manners

Etiquette as a safety tool

Beyond antiquated rules, modern etiquette is a coding system that facilitates coexistence and reduces social uncertainty.

Knowing the rules of greeting (the firmness of the handshake, who extends the hand first) and of presentation gives a competitive advantage: the security of knowing what to do at any given moment.

This allows the person to relax and focus on the objective of the meeting rather than on his or her own discomfort.

Knowing how to behave at the table, handling cutlery correctly or understanding precedence when entering a place, projects an image of education and sophistication that complements a good suit.

Etiquette is not rigidity, it is consideration for others; it is making those around us feel comfortable, avoiding embarrassing situations or cultural misunderstandings.

The art of conversation and voice

The auditory image carries enormous weight. The tone, volume and modulation of the voice (paralanguage) can seduce or irritate.

A monotonous tone is boring, while one that is too high-pitched or too loud can be perceived as aggressive. The good conversationalist is not the one who talks the most, but the one who listens the best.

Active listening" implies paying full attention to understand, not only to respond, validating the interlocutor.

It is essential to avoid crutches, constant interruptions or monopolizing the conversation with self-referential topics.

Knowing how to choose appropriate topics (avoiding politics, religion or illnesses in first encounters) and remembering the name of the interlocutor are details that generate personal magnetism.

Conversational elegance also includes knowing how to close an interaction gracefully, without leaving the other person with the word in his or her mouth or extending unnecessarily when the energy of the encounter has waned.

Netiquette and behavior in mixed environments

In today's age, etiquette extends to the digital realm. Typing in all capital letters (which is tantamount to shouting), sending endless audios without consulting or not respecting messaging schedules are the new forms of impoliteness that damage the professional image.

Courtesy should be maintained both in an e-mail and at a gala dinner.

Respect for other people's time, punctuality and discretion are transversal values that define the human and profe