Description
WE LIVE IN A COSMOPOLITAN AND EGALITARIAN AGE AND customs and manners are increasingly less prescriptive. Yet this fluidity can present a challenge, as politeness and consideration, which should underpin social behaviour and etiquette, may get lost. Ironically, the more relaxed society becomes, the more useful it is to have the knowledge to navigate its nuances.
Etiquette is about understanding and mastering a set of clear and pragmatic guidelines that have evolved to make everyone feel welcome and valued. Manners make everyday life easier, removing anxiety and minimising social difficulties or awkwardness. Politeness, therefore, does not intimidate or create barriers: instead it should make communication clearer. Etiquette must adapt and shift with time, especially as we become increasingly absorbed in our own digital bubble (screens, keyboards, headphones), which may erode the ability to observe, and interact with, those around us.
In a highly competitive age, manners are still valued and noticed by many, and the confidence associated with mastering social skills is an essential tool. Good manners are attractive and empowering, showing not weakness but strength. Employers bemoan the awkwardness of job candidates; educationalists are arguing that manners have their place on the national curriculum. It is proven that the confidence manners provide can set individuals apart and give them a competitive edge.
The essence of good manners is to treat other people as you would wish to be treated yourself, to show empathy, so that no one feels confused, excluded or exposed. Debrett's believes that good manners do not advertise themselves in opaque rituals and exaggerated behaviour. When used with integrity, they are the unobtrusive gestures that make the world a more civilised and agreeable place.
