Last Tuesday I attended a NACE Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay.  The topic of the evening was proper dining etiquette and Constance Hoffman of Social and Business Graces, Inc. lead us down the treacherous road of dos and don’ts.  I was very excited about the evening and came away with several fantastic tidbits of information that I would like to share!

• When attending a networking function be sure to wear a blazer with pockets so that YOUR business cards are at the ready in one pocket and the other pocket is available to for cards you receive
• If you have a drink in one hand and a plate in the other, chances are you are not prepared to shake anyone’s hand.  Try placing the plate on top of your drink…this may take some practice, but will instantly free up your hand for a proper handshake and introduction.
• The dining table is meant to be a place of cleanliness.  That means anything carrying germs should not be set upon the dining table.  This includes but is not limited to: cellphones, wallets, handbags, and keys
• When you are dining with a client, match their courses.  If they order soup, salad and entree then you order soup, salad and entree.  This does not mean you have to consume everything in its entirety, but the act helps set a comfortable playing field for you and your client.
• If a soup bowl has one or two handles on it, then feel free to drink from it like you would any other hot beverage!
• The bread basket is always past around the table clockwise, and the one that begins the passing is the last to take from the basket.

Constance did a fantastic job, especially with a social crowd such as ours.  If you are looking for a lesson on proper etiquette, I highly recommend her!

Everyone is busy.  We all have places to go and things to do.  But in all that hustle and bustle, don’t forget what your mother taught you!  Like many basics of simple courtesy, the phrase “thank you” seems to be going the way of yesteryear as if they were some pop culture phenomenon that’s past its prime!

I have personally conducted my own study (which has no bearing in science or statistics whatsoever and is merely my own observations) and have come to find that saying “thank you” goes a very long way.  I don’t believe our friends in the service industry hear it nearly as much as they should.  A polite “thank you” to the cashier at whatever store you are at could be a bright spot after they’ve been berated by some angry customer over something that was not their fault in the first place.  If someone holds the door open for you, a “thank you” is an acknowledgment of the kind gesture and a demonstration of your gratitude for something they did not have to do.  And when was the last time you told a busser at a restaurant “thank you” for clearing your table for you so that you may chat a bit without those dirty plates in front of you?

Anyone who has completed a service for you should be complimented with a thank you… unless they’ve been completely rude or neglectful, but that’s another story.  And when you ask anything of anyone you should always finish your request with a thank you…like when you ask a salesperson to find an item for you in a different size or color or both.

But don’t say “thank you” just to say it.  Mean it.  Because there is nothing worse than being
disingenuous.  In fact, an insincere “thank you” can be perceived as a back-handed compliment or dripping with sarcasm.

And I’ll let you in on a little secret.  Being justly polite and courteous to people actually brightens your day too…again, I have no actual proof.  Just a personal observation.  But I’m sure someone somewhere got a research grant to study this.

So next time you’re have a bad day, make an effort to say “thank you” to the folks you encounter who deserve it.  They will certainly appreciate it and your day will slowly improve!