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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Manners are the Golden Rule


There are many ways we can measure if we have manners.  A few of the basics include: do you hold doors for those walking in the door behind you?  Do you speak politely?  Have you ever given up your seat on public transportation?  Do you have road rage or are you a courteous driver?  When you greet people, do you look them in the eye?  Do you stand in lines at the coffee shop having a phone conversation loudly and interrupt everyone?  Lastly, do you write thank you notes?  I literally mean, pull out a note and take a pen and write the words “thank you” and include the reason you are thanking someone? 

It is important to have manners. They create a framework for society and allow us to coexist and communicate.  Having good manners truly boils down to knowing how to behave in a way that doesn’t make the people around you uncomfortable.  Like the oil that keeps your car engine running, good manners can help keep your professional relationships happy, healthy and friction free. 

During a recent professional development event, a colleague said it is your responsibility to show people how you expect to be treated.  This reminds me of the old adage, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  In an article entitled, “Have Americans Forgotten Their Manners?”  it states “the bottom line is – how you treat people is not about how they are, it’s about how you are.”  Another important point is raised, “...it’s all about your self-awareness and treating others with respect.  If you’re not aware of your behavior, that’s a problem.” 
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=118277

We need to take responsibility for our actions, and be present and aware of our surroundings.  Can you imagine a world without manners?  This is more than dinner table etiquette; this is at the very core of coexisting as a population and community.  Think about the last time you experienced someone's good manners, How did that make you feel?  It’s time to actively participate in manner sharing – take the time today to thank someone or don’t text while you’re having a conversation!  


Courtney Sprague
The Civility Project; Making Courtesy Common
10/30/2013