Is Your List Complete?

If you are like most Americans, you are at the end of the first month of your annual New Year's Resolution – most likely trying to fulfill a pledge to yourself to get fit and improve your eating habits so you look and feel better. Gym memberships spike in January for that very reason. But if that’s it, your plan is, well, a bit incomplete. To ensure you truly feel good about yourself, you need to make sure you look good ... on the inside too.

Why not add to your new year's resolution list a vow to focus on developing your manners, knowledge of the rules of business etiquette and social skills. Why, you ask? Well, in a nutshell, they make your life so much more pleasant and productive.

When you possess marvelous manners, a knowledge of the rules of etiquette and social skills you feel better and others do too. You feel happier because you are more comfortable in all situations because you know what to do and how to do it. You gain a quiet confidence (and self-respect) and aren’t worried about your own presentation. Others feel better around you because when you aren’t worrying about yourself you can focus on making those around you feel welcomed and at ease. When you do that, others truly enjoy being around you.

Did you know that 85% of one’s professional success is connected to their social skills. You see, we rarely succeed on our own. We need other people. People like to work with those who make them feel good (and do good work). So cheers to a new year of marvelous manners and social skills self-improvement that help you look so good on the inside that you can’t help but shine on the outside!

Remember, there is no downside to being well-mannered.

Happy New Year and have a marvelous week - Catherine