Being polite means being aware of and respecting the
feelings of other people. We may not
always notice politeness but we usually notice rudeness or inconsiderate
behavior. Politeness is one of the central features of human communication. It
is a human phenomenon, yet expressed differently in different cultures.
Politeness is communicated both verbally and nonverbally.
Politeness helps us to communicate better. In today’s modern
world, much interaction takes place at both personal and professional level.
One has to deal with all kinds of people of different temperaments. A person
who can get along well with others is successful in life. For this one has to
be polite.
Dealing with people is not easy. Business deals, personal
interactions, workplace intermingling all require certain conversational
skills. One has to get along with the other person. All these communication
forms require a person to be polite. Politeness can and will improve your
relationships with others, help to build respect and rapport, boost your
self-esteem and confidence, and improve your communication skills.
We all know the Japanese are “very polite.” But being polite
goes beyond just saying excuse me or thank you or holding the door open for
someone. In their context, politeness applies to far more than just people and
their actions. In Japanese, you can treat a fragile item “politely” meaning
“gently” or “with care.” A birthday present should be wrapped “politely.” This
gives a whole new meaning to this character trait.
Politeness can also be synonymous with respect. Putting
other people first: giving them the biggest piece of cake, the best seat in the
restaurant, or the center position in the photo, are all part of everyday
politeness. Politeness is about patience. Waiting in line without complaint,
and giving others the chance to express their opinion without someone
immediately challenging their words. It’s about listening to others, allowing
them to open up. It’s respecting other’s opinions, even when they’re different
from yours.
Politeness is about hesitation, that slight verbal delay
employed when you have to ask a favor (rather than just barreling right in with
your request). And when someone does ask us a favor, so often we are inclined
to think: What’s in it for me? Instead, we should be asking: What’s in it for
us?
Politeness is about grace. Using your hand to refer to the
person standing over there rather than pointing that accusing index finger.
It’s about honoring dress codes: dressing well just to please others. Yes, you
may be uncomfortable in that shirt and tie, but if you wear jeans out to a nice
restaurant, you are making your guest look bad. Think about the people around
you and that they might be uncomfortable if you: talk too loud, gossip about
others, or wear offensive clothing.
Politeness promotes harmony. But most importantly, try to
remember that it’s not all about you — it’s all about us, living in this world
together. In short, politeness is the realization that, it’s not all about you!
Instead, it’s about us.
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