Good Manners

Good manners, or behaving in a way that's socially acceptable and respectful, display respect, care, and consideration for others. Excellent manners can help you to have better relationships with people you know, and those you will meet.

Here's how to cultivate them.

• Practice basic courtesy. Say "please" and "thank you," when you need to, even to the person behind the counter at McDonald's. People notice when you're courteous and respectful toward them, and it can count for a lot. 

•    Hold open doors for other people. You don't have to be a guy to hold a door open. If someone will be entering the door shortly after you, pause a second and hold it open. Say "After you, sir/ma'am," if the person is a stranger; if not, use his or her name in place of sir or ma'am.If you're unsure about whether or not the other person would appreciate having the door held open, ask politely. Say, "May I get the door for you?" This gives the other person an opportunity to accept or decline.  

•    Speak politely. Keep the volume of your voice as low as possible while still allowing people to hear you, and don't use slang or filler words (such as "like," "uh," "so..." and so on).If possible, try not to drop your Gs. For instance, instead of saying "hangin' out," try to enunciate "hanging out."

• Don't discuss rude topics, such as bodily functions, gossip, dirty jokes, swear words, or anything you wouldn't want your mom (or someone you have a crush on) hearing you say.

• Don't interrupt or override another person when he or she is speaking. Practice being a good listener, and talk when it's your turn.  

 

•    Give up your seat on public transportation. If you're on a crowded train or bus and you notice someone struggling to stand up (such as an elderly person, a pregnant woman, or someone with a lot of parcels), offer him or her your seat. Saying something like, "Sir, I'd be delighted if you'd accept my seat" can make the situation less awkward for the other person. If he or she declines, be gracious; say, "Please feel welcome to let me know if you change your mind." 

•  Congratulate people. Offer your congratulations to someone who's just made a big accomplishment (such as graduating or being promoted), has added to his or her family (such as getting married or having a child), or has otherwise done something worthy of praise.Be a good sport. Congratulate anyone who beats you in a race, sporting event, election or other competition.

•      Be a courteous driver. Driving with good manners might seem outdated, but it's actually a matter of safety. Try to follow these tips:  

 If you come to a four-way stop that another driver doesn't seem to know how to manage, just motion him or her to go ahead of you.
Yield to pedestrians, and try to give cyclists plenty of room. Remember, your two-ton vehicle is a lot more dangerous to them than they are to you, so it's your responsibility to try to make sure everyone is safe on road! 

• Know how to greet people. Whether you're in an informal or formal situation, acknowledging the presence of another person is a fundamental point of having good manners.

1. Make any necessary greeting gestures. For informal greetings, how you physically interact with that person is your choice - you could do nothing at all, or offer a hug, handshake, or other greeting based on your relationship with that person. For formal greetings, though, it's appropriate to offer a handshake or bow your head forward slightly. If the person you're greeting formally goes in for a hug or an air kiss, accept it graciously. 
    
    
   
   • Write thank-you notes. Whenever anyone gives you a gift or does something particularly nice for you, send him or her a thank-you note within a few days (or a few weeks, for larger events such as a birthday party). Note how thankful you are for the specific gift or action, and how delighted you are to have the other person's friendship.
    
   Note that a thank-you email can be appropriate in certain situations, such as the workplace or for someone who lives so far away that an email is much more expedient. When possible, though, it is preferable to send hand-written thank-you notes.