What is it?
Etiquette, and how one behaves in a ‘polite’ society have been a subject studied and taught throughout history. Most etiquette training courses take you through personal, social, cultural, dining and business etiquette practices – ensuring you are confident and skilled in your etiquette. Learning the correct etiquette ensures avoiding offending or insulting anyone, allowing oneself to treat others how you wish to be treated. Learning how to give genuine compliments, being punctual and speaking with kindness are all part of the rules of etiquette. Surely we can all benefit from this type of training?
Who takes part?
Literally anyone, however, we find that a majority of our students embark on an etiquette training course to enhance their skills in the workplace. We train teams of people, especially front-of-house staff but what’s great is that we also get individuals on our courses who want to learn the ins and outs of etiquette. We get interest from companies that deal with HNW clients daily such as private charter jet companies, offices, banks, family offices, hedge funds, concierge services for serviced or managed apartments, and even cleaning companies where the staff clean areas for large corporations. The training truly is for everyone and anyone.
Who Provides it?
Well, you only need Google or any search engine to give you that information. However, quintessentially British, we are famed for our unrelenting politeness. Brits consider good manners and acting polite as part of their reputation, and we are renowned for it, so most people tend to look for etiquette training courses in the UK. Americans love how we speak, United Arab Emirates commonly search for British Butlers due to their refined and polite ways. The Afternoon tea served in the UK is one of the many frequented tourist experiences. Travellers love to do this and so much of the experience is the etiquette behind it. The concept of afternoon tea came to fruition after Anna who was a Duchess and close friend of Queen Victoria became hungry around 4 pm and the evening meal was at 8 pm.
What is the Purpose of it?
Learning etiquette allows us to know how to treat others with respect and how to behave in any given situation. It helps us by knowing how to read social cues and to be able to communicate effectively. This puts others at ease and builds better relationships, making people more comfortable around you. Beginning at a young age as children we are encouraged to be polite, learn good manners and respect others. It enables us to be able to mature and interact in society and be considerate of others. First impressions count and the use of good etiquette plays a part in this. If we use correct etiquette we can ensure that our communication is clear and effective, avoiding misunderstandings and causing offence.
Are there any Disadvantages to Etiquette Training?
Depending on how the training is conveyed it could create a rigid structure. Etiquette is a suggested way of behaving and at times the meaning can be taken too far. The downside means it can involve putting rules in place to prevent changes from happening where they may be required. The training needs to give each person an understanding of learning to read the room and adapt accordingly. Students should learn to self-assess themselves and find room for improvement. This is a far better approach than telling you what to do without understanding the reasons behind it. People who take part in training often gain a vast amount of confidence just by knowing they are acting correctly when they walk into a room full of people, join a business lunch or have a job interview.
Isn’t it a bit Old-Fashioned?
Not at all, do not confuse etiquette training with a finishing school where the focus would be on social graces for the upper class. We believe that etiquette training acts as a reminder of how to behave when in society. Some blame COVID-19 and some blame Gen Z for lack of social cues, we don’t blame anything. We understand learning is a journey and something new and positive can be taken from all training. It allows many people to gain confidence in social situations and this can lead to a successful outcome, be it work or in their personal life. Shifting from online working to hybrid can leave people a little lost for words when making polite conversation. Cultural etiquette can be fun to learn and a great way of engaging with different nationalities which is hugely beneficial in today’s world.
So, we provide training in modern-day manners and traditional etiquette such as how to address a Baron or a duke and what to wear to a black tie event. If you haven’t yet read Debrett’s book of etiquette and minding manners, go and grab yourself a copy now.