Communication Counts!

(reproduced with permission from artist/cartoonist, Dave Coverly)

Hys-ter-ical.  Dave Coverly's cartoon made my husband and I laugh out LOUD!  I clipped it and held on to it.  I'll definitely incorporate it in a future class.

The cartoon is spot on.  What HAVE we come to?  The art of communication is a bunch of grunts without eye contact.

I tell students to turn off cell phones at the beginning of a class.  You'd think I had asked them to cut off their thumbs.  I mean really....you should see the eye contact I get at THAT request.

An earlier post of mine on how the apple doesn't fall far from the tree is here.  I hope the cartoon is far from your reality.

May I suggest YOU communicate to your kiddo

just how to communicate.

We like:

- To look into their eyes
- Shake their hands
- Learn something about them (in person not via a text message)

Strong communication skills are signs of a confident young person and a potential leader.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young had something when they sang "Teach Your Children Well."

Manners=Tools for Life!

It takes 12 to 15 seconds to make a good (or poor) first impression.  The majority of kids that come to a Manners Boot Camp (or other venue) are a wee bit hesitant.  Some cling to their parents, others find a chair and hunker down (aka poor posture) and attempt to be invisible.

...and in the middle of class a transformation can occur.  When they learn that manners help them feel comfortable in a social situation; they get it.  We role play.  Shake hands.  Practice introducing one another. 

When we have a dining tutorial they rise to the occasion.  They ask great questions too! 

Last week University of Texas-Houston Medical School held an Etiquette Dinner for some of their pre-med students. 

One such question was "What do I do with the lemon on my glass

if I don't LIKE lemon?"

 

I suggested:  1. discard it on their bread plate (if they have one) or 2. "plop" it into the glass without squeezing.  The drink won't taste lemony (since it wasn't squeezed) and yet it's out of the way.

Now, the pre-med students were NOT hesitant.  In fact, they were excited to be there; realizing the value of how to handle (everything) themselves at dinner while making an excellent impression. 

The gentlemen rose a bit from their chair when the young ladies excused themselves.  That was new to them.  And when they heard how it impresses "chicks" - I do believe it'll become one of their "tools."

That's how I look at manners - they are TOOLS FOR LIFE.  No matter where you come from, how educated you are, what job you have - IF you have good manners you automatically look more confident.
And these future docs must look confident!

We end class by shaking hands - a firm handshake, web-to-web, with good eye contact.  And again - no matter how old they are...they leave with firmer handshakes and a bit more confidence.

They've added a few tools to their tool box for life!

 

Q & A

Question:  We received an invitation to a wedding but are unable to attend.  Do we have to send a gift?

Answer:  The proper protocol is to send a gift.  By sending an invitation to you; a gift is expected.  The same for a wedding shower.  If you're not going to attend even a small gift should be sent:  flowers or a gift certificate for a mani/pedi.  By choosing not to send a gift it's a (soft) signal that you're terminating the friendship.