Leadership & Etiquette Dynamics, along with The Etiquette and Leadership Institute are celebrating National Etiquette Week, May 14 – 18, by encouraging gestures of courtesy, civility, good manners and kindness as the way young people, leaders, business people and children around the country are called to act.
Being kind, civil and courteous starts with each individual. Small acts of kindness begin to make tremendous impact when each of us holds ourselves to standards of respect, civility and honor. You start the chain reaction. Speak kindly first, think positively rather than critically of another person, and say “thank you,” first; others will respond in like manner. It is up to you to make an impact in your community in civility, courtesy and kindness with the simple act of good manners:
The smile is a very powerful facial expression. Smile at someone and see what happens. You have the power to change a moment in a person’s bad day into a moment where there is light and happiness. Now wouldn’t that be nice? As Phyllis Diller said,
“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight!”
Take a digital break and listen. As Calvin Coolidge once said, “ No man ever listened his way out of a job.” The computer, the cell phone, electronics are EVERYWHERE. Take a break from them and be with the ones you love!
Say ‘Hello’ and ask ‘How are you?’ What connects us to each other? Is the air we breathe, the sunshine that warms us, the words we say to each other? Greetings are universal and wouldn’t it be nice if we greeted a person every hour during the work day or if we were greeted each hour during our work day?
Be grateful, show gratitude and respond to kindness. It goes to the heart of us being global citizens and neighbors. When gratitude exists you don’t find negativity, judgmental attitudes, condescension. Rather, you find acceptance, happiness and things are nice!
Leadership & Etiquette Dynamcis consultant, Rosanna Mangini, was trained and certified by The Etiquette & Leasdership Institute. Based in Athens, Ga., The Etiquette and Leadership Institute is the leader in children’s etiquette training with graduates in all 50 states and in 8 countries. The principals of The Etiquette and Leadership Institute use the ELI curriculum with over 2000 young people ages 8 to 22 each year, in addition to training adults to be children’s etiquette consultants. The Etiquette and Leadership Institute, the Protocol School of Washington, Perfectly Polished, The Etiquette School and Dorothea Johnson Productions, Inc. share an educational alliance dedicated to promoting civility.
