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Poised and perfect
BEARING, disposition and poise - these are three important attributes that determine whether you are a preacher or a `breacher' of etiquette.
A poised human body is one that ought to look as nature meant it to be -upright, straight and beautiful.
How you stand, walk, sit and talk has a strong influence on others' judgment of you.
While most of us get through life with blunders that cost nothing more than wounded pride, some can never get rid of the foot-in - mouth disease!
A few tips that will help you not get into a soup:
Hands
Your hands will pose a problem if you do not know what to do with them! Learn to place them rightly.
When you are sitting, place your hands either on the arms of the chair or in your lap, or else they will look very ungainly. Relaxed hands give you an air of serenity and confidence.
Folding your arms across your chest and hugging yourself will make you look tense and distant.
Legs
Don't shake or jerk your legs constantly. Besides looking inappropriate it is also an unwelcome distraction for others.
Avoid the awkward posture of sitting with your knees spread wide apart and feet turned outwards. The cardinal rule for a lady is to keep her knees together.
A gentleman may cross his legs, but not with a style that involves an ankle on the opposite knee.
Talking
When you are holding a conversation standing, make sure that your attention is on the speaker.
If you start looking everywhere else but the speaker, it shows not only disinterest but also disrespect to the person.
If you are sitting down when a person is introduced /or when someone strikes up a conversation, you should get up to continue the conversation.
Do not let your attention wander.
Do's and don'ts
Keep your back and head straight without stooping
Hold a conversation without shifting or shuffling too much
Avoid making unnecessary and flamboyant gestures
If walking with a lady, walk on the outer (towards the traffic) side of the pavement
Stifle a yawn you can feel coming on, if you can't, at least cover your mouth.
These simple rules of etiquette can differentiate a lesser man from one to the `manner' born!
TINA MARIAM JACOB
tina.mas@cnkonline.com
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