Etiquette School of Ohio

Ghosts and Ghouls Must Be Polite Too

Halloween is the night little goblins will be taking to the streets in search of candied treasures.  No matter how intense this search may be, all trick-or-treaters need to remember to be polite.

1)  Remember to say thank you when someone gives you candy.  They didn’t have to participate in the giving festivities, they chose to.

2) Do not push your way to the front of the line when candy is being handed out.  Please wait your turn.

3) If you accidentally bump into another trick-or-treater, say excuse me.

4) Graciously accept the candy given to you.  Don’t look in the bowl and ask for a different candy.

5)  Use the sidewalks leading up to the home.  It’s impolite to run through the lawn of others.  It’s also not the safest choice.

6)  If the person handing out the candy asks you what you are dressed as, politely answer them.  Don’t grab the candy and run.  Many adults enjoy seeing the trick-or-treaters as much as the trick-or-treaters enjoy dressing up.

7) Visit each home only 1 time - no matter how good the candy is.

Share your candy with others - especially with those unable to go trick-or-treating.

Happy Halloween!

Keep Voice Messages Short and Sweet

Be courteous of another person’s phone minutes.  When you leave a voice message, you are using their minutes for the amount of time it takes you to leave the message as well as the amount of time it takes them to listen to your message.

Your message should be precise.  Leave your name, your company name, your phone number, a brief explanation of the  nature of your call, and a good time to call you back.

For example:

“Hello Mr. Smith.  This is Sandy Hyde from the Etiquette School of Ohio.  I’m returning your call regarding information about upcoming etiquette seminars.  I can be reached at 937-469-4800 after 2:00 this afternoon or anytime Friday.  Thank you.”

Avoid rambling and unnecessary “ums” and “uhs” as much as possible by rehearsing or writing your message before you make the call.  By doing so, you will always maintain a professional image.  Your business contacts will appreciate your efficiency and organization.

Avoid the “Smoking Clique”

I do not smoke.  However, at a former place of employment, a majority of my co-workers smoked.  According to state laws, these employees had to leave the building if they wished to smoke.

Eventually, all the smokers would meet at the same spot, at the same time, for their smoke breaks.  While these employees took their smoke breaks, they began to discuss company business and actually conducted “mini meetings”.   By the time our scheduled meetings took place, a great deal of the business matters appeared to be resolved during the smoke break.  I found myself going outside to stand with the smokers to stay in the loop.

Taking a smoking break should be no different than taking a break in the office lounge with non-smokers.  Keep the conversation light and social.  Do not discuss sensitive issues or exclude other members of your team from the conversation.  Save the business agendas for the business meetings.

Do Not Push Your Plate Away - Dining Etiquette

Do not push your plate away from your place setting when you have finished your meal or course.  Leave the plate where it is until a server can remove it.

If you are pushing the plate away to make room to view business information, you are beginning your business too early.

Communicating With the Speech Impaired

If you are having a conversation with someone who has a speech impediment, be polite, patient, and listen carefully.  If you don’t understand something the individual has said, ask them to repeat or clarify the part you don’t understand.

Maintain eye contact with the person to show your attentiveness.  If their speech is slow, do not let your eyes wander around the room or let your body language communicate you’re bored.

Do not, under any circumstance, complete their sentences.  This rule also holds true when you’re having a conversation with someone who does not have a speech impediment.

These are also excellent skills for children to learn so they are polite and courteous to students who have disabilities.

“It Needs To Be” - Conversational Etiquette

When speaking about a task that should be completed in the future, don’t forget to use the words, “to be“.

For example; say, “The car needs to be washed.”  Do not say, “The car needs washed” or “The care needs washing.”

In a few areas of the country, it is common for people to drop the “to be” from their sentences.  When I hear them speak in this manner, I immediately have a good idea where they are from.

Proper Word Usage: Lie vs. Lay

Two words frequently confused and used incorrectly in conversation are lie and lay.  Webster’s Dictionary will give you very detailed definitions of both words.  I will give you brief definitions to help you remember when to use each word properly.  You may still want to take a look at the dictionary to understand all the proper uses of these words so you don’t embarrass yourself in a professional or social setting.

Lie means to assume a horizontal position.  “I’m going to lie down and take a nap.”

Lay means to put or set something down.  “Please lay the book on the table.”

Lay is also the past tense of lie.  “I felt a cold draft as I lay there earlier.”

Entertaining Clients Who Smoke

Many states have no smoking bans in restaurants.  This eliminates the need to give a smoking preference when being seated.  However, in states where there is not a smoking ban, seating preference can become tricky when entertaining guests.

If you are entertaining clients and do not smoke, you are not obligated to sit in the smoking section.  If your client asks if you would mind being seated in the smoking section, be honest and explain your sensitivity to smoke and tell them you would appreciate his or her understanding to sit in the non-smoking section.

When your client agrees, which they should do, thank them for their understanding.

Changing Daipers in Public Spaces

A baby’s timing is always just right for them, but not always ideal for adults.  If you find yourself in a public space and need to change a baby’s diaper, (please do change it rather than waiting), find a discreet location.

Seeking a restroom should be your first plan.  If a restroom is not available, try to find a location away from other people such as a corner of a room or behind a shade tree.

Once the diaper is changed, remember to dispose of the diaper properly so you don’t leave any lingering aromatic traces of your task.

Please avoid using a dining table or any other commonly used furniture at all costs.  This past week, I was dining in a restaurant at a very nice vacation resort when a couple changed their baby’s diaper on the table and  then left the soiled diaper on the table as well.  Needless to say, my appetite quickly diminished.

Always make the care of your baby a priority, but please be aware and considerate of the people around you.

Spa Etiquette - Speak Softly

A spa is a place where people go to relax, de-stress, and recharge.  A spa promotes physical and mental well being.  We pay top dollars for spa treatments because we live in such a fast passed and stressful environment and desire these services to maintain our sanity.

When visiting a spa, please respect other guests by lowering your voice.  Also, refrain from loud outbursts of laughter, no matter how funny a situation might be.

Be sure your cell phone is off.  There is no place for telephone conversations in the spa.  If you can’t miss a call, perhaps you should reschedule your treatment.