SOCIAL

GRACES IN
GENERAL
PREPARED BY: JENNIFER DOLOR
BEED-2

SOCIAL GRACES
More popularly known as good manners and etiquette is not a “put-on” or “add-
on” to one’s personality.
MANNERS
Good manners is about considering the feeling of other people, and being the kind
of person that others will like and respect.
ETIQUETTE
Rules governing socially acceptable behavior.
The word “etiquette” is derived from French which actually means ”ticket”. Your
ticket to get anything & any place you want.
It is defined as a good behavior which distinguishes human beings from animals.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SMILE?

In the world of hospitality, nothing is more way of communicating an attitude of
cheer in welcoming a guest and making him or her feel at ease than smiling.
It makes you look approachable, friendly, relaxed, open and comfortable. It show
other that you have a sense of well being and that you enjoy life.

EYE CONTACT
Looking a person in the eye means that you acknowledge their presence and that
you are listening to his or her every words.
Not maintaining eye contact is like saying “you are a non-person, insignificant”.
Break eye contact frequently as you talk or listen. The best technique is to look to
the side and then back. A polite listener will focus on the chin, mouth, or one side
of the other person’s face.

SUGGESTED WORDS TO USE OFTEN

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Add the person’s name.
Please- yes, please. Could you wait for a few minutes, please.
Thank you.
It’s my pleasure. “It’s my pleasure sir or ma’am”, “You’re welcome or you are very
welcome”.
“I am sorry”
Remember person’s name- a person’s name is to him/her, the sweetest and most
important sound in any language. According to Dale Carnegie’s advice, you can
say “Could you spell that for me please?” “Could you help me pronounce your
name please?”

WORDS TO AVOID
I don’t know
Can’t do that
You will have to
NO
USE INSTEAD
Let me check
Let’s see what I can do
We can help you
YES

SOCIAL GRACES IN THE FAMILY

Many time the home is the place we “let go” so to speak. We are careless with the
way we act or with what we say. Mainly because we are confidents that we will be
forgive anyway.
 It is at home that we should practice the social amenities of living. It is of
paramount importance that we should respect the privacy of each member of the
family.

HONOR YOUR PARENTS

We ask for their advice
Look at things from their perspective
Try to please them
Have a good attitude, show respect
Thank them
Compliment them
Obey them
SISTERS AND BROTHERS
Don’t tease
Don’t be sarcastic
Don’t tattle
Showed love
Helped one another
Didn’t worry about “favorites”
Didn’t count chores
Don’t mock
Stick up for one another

SOCIAL GRACES IN PUBLIC PLACES

This includes the behavior in the streets, on the bus, in the restaurants, school,
and in church.
In the street- when walking in groups do not walk more than two abreast. Let
others pass behind you. No one has a monopoly of the sidewalk.
On the bus- if both woman and man are eyeing the only one seat available, the
man should give it to the woman. If the woman is escorted by a man, the lady
should climb unto the bus first. In leaving, the man should precede the woman
and extend a helping hand when she is getting off the bus by holding her arm or
supporting her elbow.
In restaurants- when entering the restaurant the man precedes the woman and
leads her to a convenient place. If there is a waiter who comes forward to attend to
them, then the man step back and lets woman go first. When the seat has been
chosen, either the waiter or the man pulls out a chair and seats the woman. When
the man is familiar with the restaurants and its specialties, he should suggest
some choices to her. They are both unfamiliar he should ask the waiter for
recommendations.
In church- Do not unduly attract attention when you enter. Walk quietly to a
convenient seat. Choose one in front when early and one at the back, if late. Avoid
greeting friends in a loud voice.

TABLE ETIQUETTE
Hold the knife and fork correctly.
 The American- which you eat with fork in the right hand and change over
cut.
 The Continental- in which cut-off bites of meat can be speared with the
fork, in the left hand and transferred to the mouth with the left hand.
Carry the food directly to the mouth, not stopping halfway to talk.
Get conservatively-sized bites.
Sit erect at the table.
 Things eaten with a fork- meat, vegetables, salads, pie, sticky or very soft cake,
brick ice cream, watermelons, and other juicy, uncooked fruits and berries.
Things eaten with a finger- breads, sandwiches (except the hot ones), celery,
olives, radishes, snacks, nuts, candy, cookies, bite-sized chunks of cheese, apple
and such fruit.
Never use bread to mop your plate, nor do you “dunk” your bread in your coffee.
Take soup with spoon, spooning away from you. Do not “slurp” your food with
your spoon. Wait until it is cool enough to eat.
If you drop your silverware, leave it there. Apologize briefly; do not make a scene.

BASIC TABLE MANNERS

Do not order alcoholic beverages
Do not smoke while dining out
Sit up straight at the table
When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap or resting on the table.
Never chew with your mouth open or make loud noises when you eat.
Do not slurp soup from a spoon.
Engage in table conversation that is pleasant but entirely free of controversial
subject.
You should not leave the table during the meal except in an emergency, simply
excuse yourself.
If you need something that you cannot reach easily, politely ask the person closest
to the item you need to pass it to you.
If you or someone you are dining with left handed, it is best for the left handed
person to sit at the left end of the table.
If food spills of your plate, you may pick it up with a piece of your silverware and
place on the edge of your plate.
Never spit a piece of bad food or tough gristle into your napkin.
If food gets caught between your teeth and you can’t remove it with your tongue,
leave the table and go to a mirror to remove it in private.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
Punctuality. Be on time- no one wants to be kept waiting. If it is unavoidable
delay, try to contact the person.
Greetings. When meeting someone, rise if you are seated, smile, extend your hand
and repeat the other person’s name in your greeting.
Telephone Manners. Have a definite purpose for calling someone because
telephone calls are an intrusion into their busy day.
Smoking. Be aware of smoking policies. You should never smoke during an
interview, at meal or when you are aware that the other person’s pleasure does not
include tobacco smoke.
Cultural Courtesy. Show appreciation and respect for the differences between or
country and someone else’s.
Five Key Words. Remember five words that are too often neglected in business;
PLEASE, THANK YOU, and WELL DONE.