i.Begin with positivity. Start each day with enthusiasm. Greet those you meet, and say farewell when you leave. Be courteous — treat everyone as you wish to be treated.

ii.Silence your phone. Upon entering any establishment, set it to vibrate. Not every call demands an answer — that is what voicemail is for. If a call is urgent, excuse yourself quietly and keep it brief.

iii.Be impeccably polite. Say "please," "thank you," "excuse me," and "you are welcome" as occasion demands. Even when met with rudeness, choose grace over retaliation.

iv.Groom with intention. Personal presentation is an act of respect. Keep hair, skin, nails and clothing clean and appropriate to the setting. Never groom in public — the restroom exists for this purpose.

v.Avoid bodily offences. Refrain from spitting, picking, scratching, or smoking in company. Be punctual — to keep another waiting is a discourtesy. Never swear or shout; composure is the mark of the civilised.

vi.Steer clear of the dreaded three. Avoid discourse on religion, politics, or finances in company. Also: remove your hat indoors, and allow people to exit a lift before you enter.

vii.Mind the small courtesies. Hold doors. Keep right on pavements and stairwells. Do not stare or point. Keep food and drink in your left hand so your right remains free for handshakes. Be perceptive and without prejudice.

i.Never speak with food in your mouth. This is both socially outrageous and medically hazardous. Swallow first; then make your point.

ii.Chew with your mouth closed. An obvious rule, yet easy to forget when a meal is particularly pleasing.

iii.Excuse yourself graciously. Whenever you must leave the table, say "excuse me" — irrespective of company. It works wonders at every level of society.

iv.Ask, do not reach. Never stretch across another's plate. Politely ask the person beside you to "please pass the —".

v.Keep elbows off the table during the meal. Once the meal has concluded, or before it begins, elbows at rest are acceptable.

vi.Hold utensils correctly. In the American style, transfer the fork after cutting. In the Continental style, the fork remains in the left hand throughout. Both are correct — choose one and be consistent.

vii.Signal with your utensils. Finished: fork and knife side by side, handles at 3–4 o'clock. Still eating: handles at 8 and 4 o'clock across the plate like an open book.

i.Tame your tongue. Silence carries weight. Speak only when you have something meaningful to say, keep your voice low and clear, and shed filler words such as "like" or "uh".

ii.Cultivate sensitivity. Avoid rude topics — bodily functions, gossip, profanity. When addressing a delicate subject, use the same calm tone you would for any ordinary question.

iii.Listen truly. Do not interrupt. Wait your turn to speak. Compliment those who have achieved, and congratulate those who have beaten you fairly.

iv.Acknowledge others. To ignore another's presence is an insult. Greet acquaintances by title until they invite you to use their first name. A formal greeting should always be complete — never a mere "hey".

v.Observe telephone etiquette. Do not call before 7 am or after 9 pm unless it is an emergency. In public, speak at indoor voice level. Private matters are not public news.

vi.Your voice is your character on the phone. A wrong number warrants a brief, polite apology — not a silent disconnection. Smile through your voice; your listener cannot see you.

vii.Manage two conversations gracefully. Always excuse yourself from one before attending to the other. Pardon unavoidable bodily sounds with a simple "excuse me" — no laughter, no repetition.

Your online presence is read before you arrive in any room. What you post is a permanent portrait of your character — treat it accordingly.

i.Post with intention. Before publishing anything, ask: would I be comfortable with my employer seeing this? Party photographs with alcohol are, without exception, inadvisable.

ii.Never trust privacy settings. They are barriers, not walls. Under no circumstances should inappropriate content rely on them for protection.

iii.Polish your digital presence. Proper spelling and grammar project intelligence and care. Consider what you wish people to associate with your name — and build that consistently.

iv.Write courteous emails. The speed of digital communication invites carelessness. Before sending, ask yourself how you would feel receiving the same message. If in doubt, wait until morning and read it again.

v.Be selective with recipients. Not every message is relevant to everyone. Sending widely is a greater offence than occasionally omitting someone.

vi.Respond thoughtfully. If a full reply will take time, send a brief acknowledgement immediately. When replying, delete all but the pertinent portions of the original message.

vii.Seek permission before forwarding. Never forward a private message without the writer's consent. And never write anything you would not say to that person's face — email travels further than you expect.

"A jest's prosperity lies in the ear of him that hears it, never in the tongue of him that makes it." — Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost

i.Jokes reveal psychology. Every joke, however casual, reflects the teller's unconscious desires and makeup. People do not joke merely to amuse — they joke to satisfy deeper psychological needs.

ii.Early memories shape humour. The kinds of jokes a person prefers — or tells — offer a window into their formative experiences and emotional landscape.

iii.Some use humour to feel superior. Mockery of others is a means of elevation for the insecure. But as Boccaccio warned: those who ridicule often become the jest themselves.

iv.Laughter signals belief alignment. Before laughing, the mind assesses a joke against its own belief system. Loud laughter nearly always indicates deep resonance with the underlying idea.

v.Jokes often voice desires. "I forgot my keys" beside a Ferrari is not a throwaway comment. It is an expression of longing for status, wealth, and freedom.

vi.Wit can be a weapon. Political humour in particular is often a vehicle for attacking rivals indirectly. The mask of laughter makes the blow feel lighter — but it lands nonetheless.

vii.Listen to what jokes reveal. Analyse carefully what a person finds funny. In a few jokes, you may learn more about someone than in hours of ordinary conversation.

i.Greet with warmth and simplicity. "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" — offered sincerely — is among the most powerful social gestures available to us. Men should stand when greeting. Indoors, offer a handshake.

ii.Introduce those who are unfamiliar. The person of lower standing is presented to the person of higher standing. Name the senior party first, then say "I would like to introduce you to —". Never say "Pleased to meet you" — it is considered low.

iii.Address everyone by title. "Mr," "Mrs," "Dr," "Reverend" — until invited otherwise. When unsure, "Sir" or "Madam" is never wrong.

iv.Welcome guests with intention. If hosting, invite guests inside and take their coat, gloves, and umbrella. If visiting, do not enter until invited — and always wipe your feet.

v.Master the handshake. Stand still. Make eye contact. Offer your right hand, grip firmly but not crushingly, shake once or twice, release. A limp handshake forfeits goodwill in an instant.

vi.Part with equal grace. Offer a handshake and a parting sentiment — "Good evening," "Good night" — before departing. The farewell is as important as the arrival.

vii.Receive honours with both hands. Accept any award or certificate with your left hand while shaking the bestower's hand with your right.

Assertive attitude

i.Project quiet confidence. The mind forms judgements in fractions of a second. Remove what makes you uncomfortable about yourself — then hold your head as if you belong wherever you are.

ii.Treat everyone as a friend, until proven otherwise. You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose. You will know soon enough if the trust was misplaced.

iii.Think first of what you can offer. When meeting someone new, ask yourself not "what can they do for me?" but "what might I do for them?" Help sincerely, briefly, without insisting.

Posture & presence

iv.Stand tall, but at ease. Feet at hip width. Imagine being gently lifted by the crown of your head — then relax your shoulders. Keep your core engaged. Never slouch.

v.Your feet reveal your confidence. Feet too close together reads as insecurity; too far apart as aggression. Hip width is the equilibrium of composure.

vi.Mirror your companion subtly. When people see their own posture and movement reflected back, they feel understood. Cross your arms when they do, lean when they lean — but never let it become obvious.

Entering a room

vii.Enter as if you are glad to be there. Pause briefly. Let your eyes move over the room with warmth, not surveillance. Smile as though you have just stepped into pleasant weather. Make eye contact and hold it a moment before nodding.

The handshake & face

viii.Shake with intent. A dead-fish handshake erodes goodwill in an instant. Look into the other person's eyes long enough to note their colour. Smile as if you have seen something there that pleases you.

ix.Make your resting face a welcoming one. A face at rest that appears annoyed repels before a word is spoken. Aim for the faint look of someone who finds the world mildly agreeable.

Essential Etiquettes