Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Greet People Politely
• Method 2 of 3: Say Polite Words
• Method 3 of 3: Be Polite
• Tips

Politeness is the ability and willingness to speak and act kindly and courteously in all circumstances. A polite person makes friends with ease, succeeds at work, and shows respect for others. You may already have good manners, but want to learn to exercise them to the fullest as you prepare for your upcoming dinner party, work party, or daily routine. You can be polite by greeting people correctly and showing your good manners both in word and deed.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Greet People Politely

1. 1 Smile when you greet someone. If you're meeting someone or just greeting someone you know, don't forget to smile. Your smile will indicate that you are in a good mood and that you are happy to see the person. Smiling is a good foundation for developing friendships.
2. 2 Say hello first. Instead of silently walking by someone you know or ignoring someone you are planning to meet with, say hello. Don't wait for the person to say hello first; take the initiative in this.
   • You can say: “Hello, Andrey. Nice to meet you! My name is Elena, I am a translator. "
3. 3 Shake the person's hand tightly. When meeting a person, reach out with your right hand and shake his hand with it. If this person is a good friend of yours, you can hug him. Make sure that your handshake is not too strong. Otherwise, you can hurt the person.
   • There are different ways to greet. Find out how people from different countries greet each other. Greeting doesn't always include a handshake. You should know how to greet each other in your area. If you are not sure how to do this correctly, find the relevant information on the Internet.
4. 4 Make eye contact as you talk to the person. When you are talking to someone, try to look your interlocutor in the eye bOmost of the time. This will show the person that you are listening carefully and be polite. However, don't overdo it. Do not look too closely at the interlocutor. Otherwise, he may consider you a rude person.
   • Look away from time to time so that the person does not feel that you are looking at him too intently.

Method 2 of 3: Say Polite Words

1. 1 Say please and thank you. When you ask someone to do something for you, always say please. After the person has done something to you, do not forget to say "thank you". Others need to know that you appreciate their help.
   • For example, you might say, "Darling, would you please take my dry-cleaned jacket?"
   • Or say, "Thank you for reminding me of the meeting."
2. 2 Start a casual short conversation. Avoid being overly straightforward. Otherwise, you will be considered rude. Instead of jumping straight to serious issues, try casual conversations about everyday topics. Ask the person how his day went, if everything is okay with his children, and what a delicious dish he ate for lunch. Tell him about a book you are currently reading or about a movie you recently watched. This will help melt the ice.
   • You can say: “Hello, Nikolai! How are you?" When he answers your question, you can say, “Did you just have dinner? What delicious meal did you have for lunch? "
   • Try to remember details related to the life of your interlocutor, for example, the names of the marriage partner and children, date of birth, or other significant events in his life. Also, do not forget about difficult life circumstances in which your interlocutor may be.
   • Listen carefully and pay attention to what the other person is telling you. Don't interrupt him. Show your interest by asking questions.
   • Avoid slang vocabulary, as well as words that are not familiar to your interlocutor. If you're discussing a difficult topic, don't be arrogant.
3. 3 Treat people older than you with respect. In many cultures, it is considered impolite to refer to older people by their first names. Address them by name and patronymic.
   • If an older person asks to refer to him by name, you can do so.
   • Follow this advice if he is 15 years or more older than you.
4. 4 Congratulate the person. When others are successful at something, be generous with praise. When you meet someone who recently graduated from high school, got married, or got a promotion, be sure to express your joy and congratulations. Otherwise, you will be considered rude.
   • Also, do not ignore the sad events that the person has faced. If you know that a loved one of your interlocutor has recently died, do not forget to express your condolences.
5. 5 Select expression. Although no one can stop you from using obscene words in your speech with friends or at home, in some situations this should be avoided. If you are in a church, school, work, or with people you don't know well, choose expressions.
6. 6 Avoid gossip. While you may be tempted to speak unflatteringly about people you know, you shouldn't. A polite person does not speak ill of others, even if the information he possesses is true. If others are gossiping in your presence, move the conversation to another topic or leave.
7. 7 Apologize if you made a mistake. Although a polite person tries not to make mistakes while in society, it is still worth remembering that there are no perfect people. If you did something wrong, sincerely apologize. Do this without delay. Say that you are sorry about what happened and do your best to prevent this behavior in the future.
   • For example, if you let your friend down by promising to go to a party with him, but you broke your promise, you might say, “Forgive me for letting you down. I came home from work tired and really wanted to sleep. However, this does not justify my action. So please excuse me. Let's meet this weekend. "

Method 3 of 3: Be Polite

1. 1 Come early. Treat other people's time with respect. If you have an appointment, try to arrive at least five minutes early. You never know what might happen on the road. So get out early.
2. 2 Dress appropriately for the situation. If you are invited to an event, find out what dress code requirements are. If you are not sure what is expected of you, ask the event organizer what you should look like. Do your research and choose the right garments.
   • For example, if you are invited to an event that has a professional, business-like dress code that allows for looser, more casual attire, you might want to wear a nice shirt and pants or skirt. You can also wear a blazer or cardigan.
   • Make sure your clothes are clean and ironed.
3. 3 Maintain your hygiene. In addition to keeping your clothes clean and tidy, keep your body clean. Shower daily. Use deodorant and lotion. Take care of neat styling. Also, don't forget to shave.
4. 4 Watch others if you don't know how to behave. How do others greet each other? What are they doing with their outerwear? What topics are they discussing? Different situations require different standards of formality, and these standards often dictate what is polite and what is not. Therefore, if you do not know how to behave, observe the host or other guests.
5. 5 Follow the rules of table etiquette. Start with the cutlery farther away from the plate and work your way towards the center, using “fresh” cutlery for each new dish. Place the napkin on your lap, and don't put anything on the table that was not there when you arrived (phone, glasses, jewelry). Place the purse between your legs, under the chair. Women don't have to touch up their makeup at the table. This is rude and demonstrates a lack of good manners. If you want to touch up your makeup or see if food pieces are stuck in your teeth, do it in the restroom.
   • Do not start eating until all guests are seated in their seats and all food and drinks have been served.
   • Chew with your mouth closed. Don't speak with your mouth full.
   • Avoid foods with unpleasant odors that make your breath unpleasant.
   • Watch how you eat your soup. Do this so that others do not hear you eat.
   • Don't put your elbows on the table and, if you need something, ask the person sitting next to you to give it to you.
   • Don't play with your hair.
   • Do not bite your fingers or nails.
   • Don't pick your nose or ears.

Tips

• Try not to interrupt the person if they are talking to someone else or busy with something.
• Treat everyone equally regardless of their background, race, appearance, and so on.
• Take off your hat when greeting someone, entering a room, or when the national anthem is playing.