If there’s anything we can learn from Pride and Prejudice, it is that first impressions undoubtedly last! One way to work on making favorable first impressions is to work on the basics: your table manners. It is no secret that we need to learn proper etiquette to make good impressions at home and in the world outside it.
Common sense is usually the best guide for it. However, we will guide you as a professional – and start by where it matters the most: the home.
Common Etiquette Problems
Some might like playing games. Common pastimes may include Jili, but the lack of social activities can have a drawback. This can be felt in the recent national survey conducted by Kessler International, which came up with some disturbing information about the state of manners, etiquette, and ethics in the workplace. The lack of courtesy and rudeness among staff was high, at 84%, and the reasons for such were surprising, too.
Another one that may be linked to etiquette is the inability to handle confrontation. However, charity can be lacking, not just at a professional level.
Thus, it is a must to remember that table manners are part of being a decent person, too, not just to make good impressions on people.
Table Manners
Some things that need remembering for basics are the following:
- Chew with your mouth closed. Chewing with your mouth open is considered rude because you are exposing to the world what you’re eating. Secondly, it may be disruptive to those who are eating around you.
- Set the smartphone to silent or vibrate. Keep it off the table. When eating, the focus is on the food—and the company. Calls and texts are off the table until the meal is done and finished. Moreover, it can be an upfront to the people who vie for your attention. If the attention is on the smartphone, people are bound to think that you are boring and stuck-up because you are not paying them attention nor putting the effort into making them feel welcome or feel that you are itnerested in them.
- Hold the utensils correctly in the right hand. Don’t grip the utensils too tightly. Don’t stab the food with your utensils—people will think you do not know your table manners.
- Clean as you go. This policy is underrated, as it emphasizes the need for cleanliness. It also helps the help do their jobs more efficiently and without fuss.
- Wait until you’re done chewing before sipping. Chewing and sipping is not a good marriage of activities. You are better off finishing the chewing before sipping.
- Don’t interrupt conversations. This can be a tricky policy. However, it is good always to let someone finish speaking before replying. If you interrupt, you look rude. It is also an act of goodwill and respect to the presence of the person you are conversing with.
The Importance of Table Manners
There are many reasons why table manners in the home are a must. They are an act of good—a sign of respect and consideration for others. Moreover, they are a way to show respect for the social activity of eating, where people connect and bond. Proper manners make people enjoy eating more.
Wrapping Up
Returning to the basics is another way to reconnect with the most important things in life – especially where manners are concerned. Many tend to look down on manners as something that doesn’t matter, but it does. Hopefully, this guide will help those who want to try improving their table manners. Charity, after all, begins at home.
