How To Have Great Manners Anywhere In The World

by BizMum

This is actually incredible fun. To have great manners anywhere in the world really is to appear to have wonderful worldwide manners. First, you must know that Emily Post is a must read as a how to for manners, but you will still be quite at a loss out there in the big wide world. Second, be a great observer and size up the situation before you act or speak. Third, be willing to ask about what you must do and how to perform certain mannerisms. So, the ideal is to instead of possibly committing a faux pas, you’ll be endearing yourself to your hosts.

Faux Pas

Arrogance equals the saying ‘pride comes before a fall’. Travel with a high and mighty attitude and you’re guaranteed people treating you with caution at first. But later, should you get yourself into a difficult situation with some locals who may take exception t your behaviour it may be quite a sticky situation.

Remember this point of view. When you visit countries or people from other places of the globe, there are customs and behaviours that may be the exact opposite to what you may have expected. Good manners are typically local, not international…unless you’ve been living in a cave all your life.

The faux pas is I speak of is the missteps many tourists or indeed business people make when they travel abroad expecting to arrive like a knight on great white steed. I’ve got news for you, you go there as a guest and therefore, behave like one. Otherwise, you will have insulted people who do not understand your ways.

Carry Great Attitude and Copy Your Hosts’ Behaviours

First impressions count big time in many cultures. If you’re visiting countries or if you have visitors, or you live in a multi-cultural environment of metropolitan cities today, this aspect of observation is all important. Manners and mannerisms are often dependent on the localities of even people from the same nation. The Chinese have many cultural mannerisms despite having the same manners related to royal dictates. Go to India and you’ll be stymied by how many different customs there are. One can’t learn them all. Therefore, simply put, you can observe and ask politely how you should do certain things. Believe me your host or guide will be most pleased as you honour them with such a request.

The one great thing which I have learnt is to treat others you visit like they are the great person. Your hosts are your ‘superiors’. By humbling yourself, many customs will respect you and hold you in high esteem. You see, more ancient cultures will consider a visitor who respects and gives appreciation to their way of life and customs despite your apparent power or wealth is someone who is powerful and secure…like a noble to be upheld. You will also notice your hosts have done the exact same thing.

Let’s use the Far East people as examples of manners. Just turn the clock back fifteen years and very few western people knew that to just use a firm hearty handshake, a very loud and enthusiastic welcome and then hand a business card at your counterpart is very boorish behaviour. That immediately put your host or visitor ill at ease with you. “Do I want to do business with such a rude personality?” Remember, this shows your attitude.

Today, most people understand that to be polite yet assertive simply requires you to smile just slightly, bow when you reach out your hands for a gentle handshake, sometimes even two handed, and then hand your business card with two hands, with the card backed by a card container (or not). It takes practice and some observation to get perfect. But you see, people of those cultures will respect you for respecting their culture. Knowing the relative rank of the person greeting you helps. If he or she is considered of higher rank, you bow deeper. But, it is always good form if you bow at least as low as your counterpart or lower. Carry great attitude by appreciating your hosts and you will seldom err.