Page 56 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2017

etiquette
Great Communications Skills
W– the Path toCivility
story by Nancy Wilson
e communicate every day of our lives. So why aren’t we better communicators? Why are we often misunderstood? Poor communication can result in family friction, not receiving a promotion, a missed appointment, etc. Why is there such a lack of civility
and lack of respect for people who disagree with us? Is it possible to bridge the incivility
gap and begin to build a dialogue based on civility and openness? We witness the tragic consequences of poor communication and incivility every day — from skirmishes to road rage to even senseless murders.
The basic foundation for civility can be found in etiquette which is simply guidelines for how we treat each other. Based on such principles as respect, kindness, trustworthiness, fairness, and integrity, etiquette also encompasses manners, easy-to-learn rules for behavior. These principles coupled with the rules, when learned and practiced, will reward us with confidence and a certain charisma paving the way for positive, healthy relationships with others.
With that background information, let’s turn to six communication tips that you can begin using immediately in your personal and business relations.
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