Opinion: Manners keep peace in business world

Grooming

You are expected to be clean, well-groomed, smelling good and in full standard uniform every workday.

Shower or bathe … with soap and shampoo.

Handle the hair.

It must be of a color found in hair in nature.

Extreme haircuts, Mohawks, ponytails, etc. are not permitted.

Men.

Shave or trim beard, mustache and sideburns to ear length maximum.

Hair trimmed to above the collar.

Women.

Hair pulled off face in a braid, bun or ponytail.

Handle the hands.

Scrub nails with nail brush.

Trim nails to 1/4-inch maximum length.

Smell good … apply underarm deodorant.

Now, that may seem extreme. But have you ever had the conversation with the stinky guy? OK. It could be that mama didn’t teach him basic hygiene. So, it’s not a bad idea to clearly communicate specific grooming standards. You may be doing that person a huge service.

It comes down to manners. If mama taught you good manners while you were growing up, you are at a decided advantage in relationships – personally, in the workplace and in your community.

Grooming is really a good manners concept. Good grooming is being polite to the people who have to look at you and be close to you. Good manners are the little things that we do for each other to grease the skids of communication. Good manners help us respect the increasingly smaller distance between people on our planet.

Ready for a basic manners lesson? Here’s the lowdown on what mama teaches …

Say, “please” and “thank you.” Even to family members.

Hold the door. Keep the door from slamming shut on the person walking in right behind you. Gentlemen, hold the door for ladies. Youngsters, hold the door for older folks.

Offer your seat to someone who needs it more than you do.

Don’t yell at people. It’s rude and disrespectful. Once voices are raised, communication is reduced. The exception to this rule is at sporting events, where yelling is appropriate. However, at sporting events it’s especially important to abide by the next thing mama teaches …

No hitting.

Monitor your personal noises, including but not limited to … coughing, throat clearing, sniffling, knuckle-cracking, gum-popping, ear-drum-equalizing and gas-expulsion.

You might not be offended by swearing, but in a crowd of two or more, someone else may be. Why risk it?

Criticize in private. Nobody wants to hear it. Even those who claim to take criticism well don’t really like hearing it.

That said, praise in public, praise in private – catch people doing things right all day. And brag on them. It’s good manners.

Don’t interrupt. Oh, I have a lot of work to do here. Smart folks like me KNOW what the end of your sentence is going to be. And I know you will be just DAZZLED to hear what I have to say. Sheesh. Interrupting is RUDE. I’m working on this. The best advice I can give to my fellow interrupters …

Listen. The best listener I know is a deaf man.

Introduce people. Even if you have to begin with, “I am old, and somewhere along the line I lost my memory. What is your name again? I want to introduce you to my best friend ...”

Offer whatever it is you are offering to your guests first.

Use names in e-mails. Are we really too busy for a greeting in e-mails?

Send thank you notes and/or gifts. Handwritten makes it a collectible.

Give genuine compliments. Comment on nice manners.

Ask permission to place someone on hold on the telephone.

Maybe your mama taught you good manners. Maybe it was papa, or another loving, mentoring adult in your childhood. Give him or her a big hug and a kiss. Not everyone is so fortunate. Help the people in your circle of influence by your good example. Imagine worldwide good manners.

It’s called peace.

Ellen Rohr is an author and business consultant who offers systems for getting focused and organized, making money and having fun in business. Her latest book is “The Bare Bones Biz Plan.” She can be reached at ellen@barebonesbiz.com.