Manners Take You Places
In a world where Karen’s get way more airtime than good deeds, we can often feel like common courtesy has all but left the building. We have all had the pleasure of dealing with a terrible boss, managing a passive aggressive friend, or wanting to explode on a coworker, I am here to tell you there is a better way.
There is not a single situation in which having good manners will decrease your chances of success. Good manners take you places – and they make the ride so much more enjoyable. Good manners start with a whole lot of patience and a bit of social skills. Patience to accommodate your partner your children, and most importantly your family members and coworkers. Lots of patience and understanding that we all have challenges and move through life differently.
Social skills are the glue that holds our society together. They will not only promote your popularity but can put your education to work, open doors of opportunity, mend fences with neighbors, win you a first date, help you make new friends and experience new things. It is a fact that those with good social skills are more likely to succeed and are capable of demonstrating the patience to navigate life with ease.
Perhaps the old adage, “you get more bees with honey” still rings true in the uncivil wild, wild west. I had the fortunate opportunity to work with a task force dedicated to public service in the time of a crisis. This effort brought together members of the police, fire department, national guard, and government officials – all charged with how to successfully prepare to manage and navigate the public in the event of a major catastrophic event.
My role was to convince the participants that good social skills may mean the difference between success and failure, in a time when failure is not an option. Good social skills will not only provide the comfort necessary provide order and confidence that is essential to communicate with diverse groups of people but they can almost always ensure the most positive outcome possible. Good social skills put people at ease and can make them feel less stressed in a difficult situation. Proper manners can help diffuse a tense conversation, calm down an aggressive individual, bring levity to an intense conversation, improve understanding and help us find connection on a basic, human level.
Crisis gives way for a space to come together, understand our our similarities and bond over a shared experience. If a global pandemic taught us anything it is that this world is much smaller than we think. We are in this together and together we can all improve this shared existence. Through this uncomfortable place we often find allies in unexpected places and insights into questions we didn’t know we had.
Be positive, stay curious, seek to find beauty in our differences and patience with our similarities. Also never forget to recognize the value of a good, clean joke…
- What do you call an alligator wearing a vest? An investigator.
- How do aliens throw a party? They plan it.
- What can you say about the amazing scare-crow? He’s outstanding in his field
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Katherine Mason Young believes that strong social skills are essential for success. They can open doors for new opportunities, impress potential employers, resolve conflicts, and even help secure a first date. She brings these crucial skills to life, showing us how to connect with others and navigate the world with both courage and confidence.