It is extremely important to be courteous and respectful to other people around you. While every culture and society has its own set of rules of courteous engagement, there are some commonly accepted practices which you should make constant use of. Failure to do so can make you appear as a disrespectful person, and you might not even be intending it! Here are the 15 rules of engagement.
This is obvious because your friend may or may not be at their home. They might be engaged in other activities and may not want you to be there. If you show up unannounced it can definitely backfire.
It looks incredibly unprofessional to put handbags on you're the chair, table or even on your lap. Instead, the handbag should be hung on a chair or put on the floor if there is no space available.
Wear a pair of pants and sweater to ensure you look elegant and comfortable at the same time. Don't be in your whity tighties because it makes you look unruly and untidy to your friends. It is important to come across as clean.
This is basic rule of engagement. The other person may not be ready for you to enter the door. Perhaps they are changing their clothes, perhaps they are engaged in activity they don't want you to witness.
Some people put on an incredible number of accessories on their body. Diamond necklaces, jewelries, gloves, hats and just about everything. The general rule of thumb is that the number of accessories should not exceed 10, or it could look awkward.
It is extremely important you don't let your friends pay the entire bill. If they offer, politely decline and offer to pay the bills. If they continue to insist, then it is alright to let them pay the bills.
Whenever you exit from an elevator or a car and there are other people following you out of the space, make sure to hold the door open for them to come out comfortably. Do not slam the door in their faces.
IF you are a male passenger, common etiquette is to sit in front of the driver. If you are a female, it is far more courteous and respectful to sit behind the driver. There is no sexism here, just basic rules of engagement.
While it is better to remain silent throughout the screening of the movie, if you have something important to say to your partner or friend, simply evacuate the building and make conversation. Or talk in muffled tones.
If something takes your fancy and you want to inquire the price of it, do not ask the person about its price. This is especially true if the person is not a close friend or relative. If the person is a friend, go ahead and ask.
It is important to be the first person to greet them. Don't wait for them to greet you first, it doesn't matter if they are in a senior or junior position. Common rules of etiquette do not change based on seniority.
The worst thing you could do is to gossip behind someone's back. Gossip spreads like wildfire and destroys relationships, burns bridges. It sows the seeds of hatred which you are better off avoiding. Keep your mouth shut if you can't help it.
It is important to not have a stoic impression on tour face. Your facial expression should be mildly cheerful and won't hurt your reputation if you learn to crack a smile every now and then to win over hearts.
If someone entrusted their secrets over to you, then it means they have trusted you enough not to spill over the beans. If you then go ahead and spread their secrets, it will inadvertently damage your reputation and relationship.
If you are in the company of your friends and relatives it is important to wear good clothes. Because good clothes tell that you value them enough to put on good clothes for them. Unruly clothes show that you don't care enough about them.
