Etiquette: Standing Up for Yourself

Dear Reader,

To-day let's speak about the importance of knowing when to stand up. Now, you are thinking to yourself, "I have never had this problem before"...but I ask you, dear reader, do you really know when it is appropriate to stand, that is, socially? I bet not. I look around today and see too many people just sitting when in polite circles, the appropriate gesture would be to stand. Here are some basic rules so you will always be correct:

1. A man always stands up when a lady enters or leaves a room or a table, at home or in restaurant. If at a restaurant, he should also offer her her chair when she returns. If a lady is at a table with other men at a restaurant and must take a brief leave, all of the men at the table should stand. A polite gesture by the lady, however, would be to say something like, "please, do not rise" if rising is difficult due to confined space.
2. All people of charm should rise from sitting when meeting someone new.
3. All people of charm should stand and greet guests and friends as they enter the room at either a private party or in a public place.
4. One should always stand when approached by someone senior to her, whether in age, importance, or corporate position, or when such a person enters the room. This also includes children, who should always stand when being addressed by an adult.
5. While in a restaurant, if an acquaintance comes over and visits one's table, everyone at the table should stop eating and rise to greet the acquaintance, whether he or she is personally known to them or not. No one at the table may resume eating until the acquaintance has left the area. Now, hopefully, the acquaintance understands proper decorum and will not keep the table waiting for more than a brief minute!

There are many other examples and I could go on. The important thing to remember is to always rise to greet, speak to, or meet someone, especially those of superior position. As this practice is so slovenly kept by many, if at all, please take heart, dear reader. You may feel awkward at first when you implement the charming habit of rising to your repertoire, but after a while, it will just come to you naturally. Your actions will be appreciated and you will always be thought of as polite and charming, at home and in business. Now that will make you stand out in a crowd!

Until next time...

HF