Certainly; because good manners represent the finest spirit of the race in its efforts to develop courtesy, kindness, sympathy, and all that makes for rich and fruitful human associations. "If I were running the schools, I would put etiquette into the curriculum because everyone needs to use good manners every day." - A. E. Wiggam
Courtesy in a Restaurant
The restaurant though a public serving place, is also your home on a temporary basis, where you can take a guest or two and entertain them with the quality service offered there. The waiters, therefore, are your servants but should not to be imposed upon in the home-servant manner
- Never insult the waiters, they are human and can be sensitive.
- Call the waiter politely - never shout or whistle or snap your fingers.
- Never clatter the dishes to attract attention of the waiter. Wait for one to be nearby.
- Never order in a rude manner.
- Never make fun of the waiter's appearances.
- Don't ridicule the bill by making it appear incorrect.
- Don't try to look impressive by placing a large order and then complain about "black-market prices..."
The waiter is keen to provide a good service as your patronage is important to the management.
Table Manners
"Eat at your table as you would eat at the table of a king..." - Confucious.
That should be the motivating spirit at any dining table. One should eat with proper manners, eat with good behaviour and not appear as if he has not eaten for months!
Sit up straight - do not hunch over your plate. Playing drumsticks with the fingers or keeping the feet in a fidgety motion is another uncultured habit. Place your wrists on the table or hands on your lap. Do not stretch your legs as they may bump others under the table. Rattling the forks and spoons displays the ignorant ill-mannered person even in the restaurant.
The napkin is for your individual use on the table. Place it on your lap after being seated. Use it to gently wipe or dab your mouth. Do not use the edge of the tablecloth as your handkerchief. If you need to go to the restroom during the meal, place the napkin to the left of the plate. At the end of the meal, place the napkin neatly, but not folded to the right of the plate.
"Please pass..." is nice to hear if you desire to get a dish not within your reach and "Thank you..." when the dish is being handed or "No thank you..." if you don't want to take any dish that has been offered.
Never appear as if you want to get the best food at once lest others beat you to it. Don't be picky by getting only what you want to eat in a certain dish. Eat slowly and chew the food quietly with your mouth closed. Use a serving spoon in getting your servings. Drink slowly.
Avoid talking when your mouth is full. Avoid nose blowing and unpleasant topics while eating. It spoil the appetite of the diners. Use the toothpick privately.
In case when a dish is broken by accident, try to make it appear as if you have not seen it or nothing happened to let the person at fault forget his/her embarrassment.
Behaviour in the Office
Listen to what the two clerks said about their manager.
"Reggie, I feel that I am a lucky employee," said Jane to her friend.
"Why, have you got any promotion in your job?"
"No but my manager is a lovely lady."
"A lovely lady?"
"Yes, she respects all our rights. She gave us privileges like a little rest, and allow us to use the telephone in family matters. She does not abuse or bully us."
"Lucky you... our manager is cross - shout at us when he orders things to be done, bawls us when there is a mistake committed... lot of things that make him feared instead of respected. Some of us even lose their working morale. I wish I could work with you..."
The above scenario illustrate how a good manager is respected by the staff. In general, the manager feels a superiority-complex. Of course he has to. But not to exult and gloat over his small salaried staff. He is already at the top and there is no need to display that royalty-like prerogative.
Like be-gets like. Courtesy be-gets courtesy.
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