Business Attire / Public Behavior (Part 2)

The shoes of a person are very important. It is said that in USA a lady judges a man by what type of shoes that man is wearing. Care should be taken that we wear the correct type of shoes. If it is a business meeting formal black or brown shoes should be worn. Slip-ons even though popular are frowned by the business community. The shoe should have laces and when a person sits the trouser should ride up to reveal the socks. The socks should be clean, smell fresh and should not hang limb. There is nothing more annoying than seeing limp socks when the person sits down.

Casual dressing is best left for informal occasions. Jeans and "T" shirts can be worn to the offices but is the accepted code of dress only in the software or computer companies. Anyhow it is better to check with the company before wearing informal dresses. Floral shirts with patterns and funny drawings should be kept side for parties at home. Ethnic dresses can be worn on special occasions. They look very nice and should be worn on national days and on festivals.

The hair style of a person is very important. It is better for a man to keep his hair clean, tidy and short. Shave very day and that will give a person that cutting edge and there is nothing like clean shave to give you more confidence. If you have beards trim it regularly and make it look as if you are having a beard out of choice. Otherwise it will look as if you have got out of the bed and walked into the office.

For the women in most countries the dress code is not specified. They can dress in any dress that is comfortable. They can wear western suits. But the colors should be sober and the rules for the shoes and traditional dresses that apply for the men apply for the women.

Now let us discuss lunch/dinner manners. It is supposed to be good manners for a man to help a lady sit in a restaurant before he sits down himself. Preferably the man should order the meal but only after consulting the lady. One should not place his/her elbows on the table. One should eat preferably with spoons and forks and not make clanking noises. Once we had enough cross the spoon with the fork. This is the universal indication of "I had enough". During the meal if you have to use a softy or Handkerchief use it discreetly and with less noise. It is very difficult to ignore a person who is sneezing powerfully into a totally open handkerchief or a roll of softy. And during the meal no blenching sounds should be made. Blenching during a meal is supposed to be uncouth or very bad manners.

After the meal it is good manners to compliment the banquet manager on the good meal. It is also good manners to leave a small tip as an appreciation of a good meal.

It is hoped that these small tips be memorized and practiced so that we are not ridiculed and made fun as country people.