etiquette Archives - Professional Courtesy, LLC

Be Kind to Everyone

February 20, 2015 by procourtesy

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Remember when your mother used to tell you to “mind your manners” when you left the house. Well, maybe your mother didn’t, but mine did. Those manners to be minded weren’t just about saying please and thank you or chewing with your mouth closed. They were about the way we treat people and the importance of being kind to everyone.

One Londoner got a big surprise after he told someone to #%&! himself on a crowded subway ride later to find out that that same man was the person who was interviewing him for a job. Needless to say, the rude man did not get the job. Read more…http://mashable.com/2015/02/20/london-commuter-job-interview/

The way we treat all people is very telling about our character. And it isn’t just the people we think matter…it’s everyone. In fact, for me, it is a real measuring stick about an individual. If they use the right fork at dinner, but are rude to the wait staff, they don’t win any points with me.

So, here are some of my tips are how to treat everyone with respect:

Don’t swear at people, even if you feel like it. To swear at people, any people, is a sign you lack self-control.

Be kind and respectful to wait staff and people in service positions. It may be their job to serve you, but it isn’t their job to take your abuse.

Smile and be polite to the receptionist in any situation, but especially going in for job interviews. Her boss may be asking her later how you treated her.

Control the road rage. You never know who you might be flipping off or shouting at.

Be kind, even if people are unkind to you. Returning rudeness with rudeness is a no win situation. And it says you are rude too.

So, the next time you feel like screaming at someone, take the high road and remember, diplomacy is an art. And being kind is the right thing to do.

Questions You Should Never Ask

April 16, 2014 by procourtesy

Questions You Should Never Ask
While at a social event recently I bumped into a woman I had not seen in a number of years. As often happens, our discussion got around to etiquette and rude behavior. She told me that when she was pregnant for one of her children (who are now grown) someone asked her if her pregnancy was planned. She said she was dumb stuck and very offended. So offended, she has never forgotten the incident.

This started me thinking of some of the questions people ask, not intending to be rude, but are.

How old are you?
You only have one child, do you intend to have others?
Why don’t you have any children?
Was your pregnancy planned?
How much weight have you lost?
How much weight have you gained?
You look tired, are you?
How much money do you make?
What did you pay for that?
Are you pregnant?

All of these questions fall into the category of personal and private decisions, for an individual or a couple…decisions that are private unless they choose to offer the information. Let that be your guide before you ask a question and insert your foot.

What are some of the questions you’ve been asked that offended you?

Resolve to be Civil in 2014

January 6, 2014 by procourtesy

Resolve to be Civil in 2014

Are you the kind who makes New Years resolutions? If so, I’d like to challenge you to be more civil in every aspect of your life. It seems that civility has gone out of style and many of us need to be reminded as to what that means.

Civility is an important frame-work of our society. Without it, we all seem to run a muck and treat each other poorly. The rules of etiquette tell us how to treat each other. It isn’t about pretense; it’s about consideration for others.

As I review some of the posts on social media and in the news, of people being out right mean toward others, I become very sad. When did it become okay to call a beautiful women “fat” because she has held onto a few pounds after having a baby. Or how about those who feel they have the right to insult others because they hold an opposing view on politics, religion or any other social, hot topic.

So in 2014 consider some of these resolutions:

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Talk to people, not about them.
Be kind, it costs very little.
Do more than your share at work.
Be positive. No one likes to work with, or be around negative people.
Find the good in everybody.
Be grateful for something in your life everyday.
Treasure your friends and loved ones.
Volunteer somewhere, regardless of how busy you are.
Respect the opinions of others, even if they differ from yours.
Listen more, talk less.

We have heard many of these points from the time we were very young, but sometimes, in a cynical world, we forget how important they are.

In so many of my seminars people tell me that what I teach is really just common sense…yes, it is. The trouble with common sense is that it is not always very common.

So, I too, will join you in working on this list of resolutions.

Happy 2014.

My Top Courtesy Tips for Healthcare Workers

August 17, 2012 by procourtesy

The medical market is very competitive today. Make sure your office staff is practicing good manners along with good medicine. Here are my top 20 tips for a more polite staff.

1. Send thank you notes to new patients and referring physicians for choosing your practice. Handwritten thank you notes are never out of style and are a mark of distinction…they say you took the time to show your appreciation. Always add a personal line or two to a preprinted message.

2. In the business world, respond to your work E-mails within 24 hours or with an auto responder message.

3. Acknowledge that you received an E-mail even if it does not require much of a response.

4. Title your E-mails in the subject line.

5. Don’t send other people’s e-mail addresses when forwarding or sending info without their permission. Use the BCC line when sending e-mail to multiple recipients.

6. If you are crafting a response before the other person is done speaking, you are not listening fully to what they have to say.” Pause before responding.

7. Always excuse yourself before leaving a patient in the exam room, on the telephone, or in any conversation. We call this “taking your leave.”

8. Never return rudeness with rudeness.

9. Smiling comes through in the tone of your voice on the telephone. Over 70% of the message is conveyed in the sound of your voice.

10. Smile! It takes more facial muscles to frown than to smile.

11. Pause for a moment before answering the telephone. This will allow you to shift gears and focus on the caller.

12. Sitting down and making eye contact while interviewing patients leaves a more favorable impression than standing and you are perceived to spend more time with the patient.

13. Eye contact should be made 40-60% of the time in conversation. Less than that suggests you’re not paying attention… more than 60 % makes people feel uncomfortable.

14. Acknowledge the special events in your patient’s lives with a note. Send sympathy notes when patients or their family members die.

15. What Not to Wear in the workplace…crocs, flip-flops, cleavage; on the top or the bottom and no bare midriff.

16. Avoid “tramptastic” skirt lengths. More than 1 -2 “above the knee is too short for work.

17.“Imagine yourself in the patient’s position… how would you feel?”

18.“Create a friendly atmosphere, but avoid a party atmosphere in your office.”

19.“Never let a patient hear you complain.”

20.“Avoid using superlatives such as, “the doctor never” does something. Better to say, “doctor prefers ,“ this leaves room for the exception to a rule.”

Be Kind to Everyone

Questions You Should Never Ask

Resolve to be Civil in 2014

My Top Courtesy Tips for Healthcare Workers

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