The 15 Rules of Common Courtesy That We Should All Use More Often

A lot of people seem to have a problem with common courtesy. We're big on putting others down and focusing on ourselves. The word "basic" is often used as a taunt, which is unfortunate because the rules in this article are actually quite simple. We'll help you break them down and show you how they will improve your day-to-day interactions with other people.

1. Introduce yourself to a woman you don't know.

I know the excuse: "It's awkward." You're going to run into these women again, and it's much easier to introduce yourself now than avoid her later. You can be brief, tell her your name and that you're new in town. It can also open up future conversation topics, such as work or hobbies. If she really isn't interested, she'll let you know, and that's okay too!

2. Compliment something other than her appearance.

We all want to feel attractive, but when the only comments we get are regarding our looks, those compliments lose their meaning. Usually it's a politically incorrect joke that doesn't really get to the root of what makes her unique and special in her own way. If she's really attractive, put it on a topic that compliments her personality or skills. Tell her you like her sense of humor or how smart she is, and then ask if you can buy her a cup of coffee sometime.

3. Compliment someone else's appearance.

If you're talking to another guy about how hot his girlfriend is, he'll roll his eyes and think about how he could circle around your table, sidle up next to you and let your friends awkwardly gawk at his girlfriend's perfect rack. However, if you say something like, "Your girlfriend has a great sense of style," he's going to beam with pride. If he asks you how your wife looks in her dress, tell him she looks stunning. He'll be the one with the smile on his face after that exchange.

4. Be willing to share your table at a restaurant or public place.

Never mind that some people are actually turned off by the whole idea of sharing tables-of-two and tend to book tables of four instead. The whole idea here is to introduce yourself to someone new and let them know you're not a jerk who likes dinner by yourself.

In addition, it's rude to hog all of the table for yourself. If you're going to be at a restaurant for three hours and already seated with a friend, take care that your friend isn't bothered by others who want to join them. Offer them the seat, offer to share the table or move on if it becomes too crowded and uncomfortable.

5. Offer your seat up at bus stops, in elevators and any other place where people can get on in front of you.

I've been forced onto a plane by people who just swan-dive right ahead of me into the only plane available without waiting or even looking back behind them. A little common courtesy goes a long way.

I've also been forced to wait at a bus stop for more than 20 minutes and been stuck with no wheelchair for an hour. Taking the initiative to hold the door for someone is better than letting them do it, because you're essentially showing them that you're not a jackass who needs to be rushed out the door.

6. Don't always expect someone else to move if they're in the way of your exit or entryway.

Check before you leave your house or office if someone's already waiting; this tip is especially important if it's a shared space that all members of the group share access, like an elevator. They may have been waiting for a while, and you don't want to force them to give up their spot because you're in a rush.

The same goes for the sidewalk; if another pedestrian is on the curb and you're about to step into the street, wait for them to cross so that both of your paths are cleared up.

7. Wait until everyone's food is ready before you start eating.

This one may be hard for some of us who grew up with hectic parents who always tried to finish faster than everyone else in a bid to reduce babysitting time, but when everyone has their food ready it means that no one is left waiting around.

We might seem like we're doing all the work by holding everyone up, but how long would it take your boss to ask you if you could finish that file on your desk?

Chances are he or she would say no, because doing so is obviously more important to them than the rest of us. If you want to hold everyone up and make them wait for their food, at least be considerate about it and finish quickly yourself.

8. Stand up when an older, senior person enters a room.

This is a simple courtesy that's easy to forget but often forgotten nonetheless. This doesn't mean that you have to stand if you're at a table, but if there's an older person in the room, stand up as a sign of respect. Older people really appreciate these simple gestures and might thank you for it.

9. Say "thank you" after someone compliments or thanks you.

We might not want to admit it, but we've probably missed a few opportunities for gratitude and appreciation throughout our lives. Not everyone appreciates the help of others.

So when someone does something nice for us, whether it's giving us directions, babysitting our kids or letting us ride in the front seat, let them know how grateful we are by saying "thank you. Thank you for saving my life from the traffic jam." It's a way of showing someone that you appreciate them.

10. Go to the effort to remember someone's name.

We've all been there before-you meet someone, exchange a few pleasantries and then realize that you've forgotten their name as soon as they leave. It might be something simple like remembering a name or where they're from.

After they leave, try to jot down their name and what they're studying in school or where they're from, so that next time you see them, you can call out the other person's name and say something along the lines of "I remember you from our conversation about gummy bears when we first met. I'm a big fan now of your class and that cool new app you're developing. Keep up the good work!"

11. Show someone you care by complimenting their work or choice of attire.

This one might sound like "nice guy" 101, but it's worth mentioning again because it's too often overlooked by society in general. You might not know someone well, but you can tell that their work is top notch or that their in-flight movie selection is surprisingly helpful to them.

If you want to get to know someone better, try complimenting them on what they're doing or what they're wearing and ask for more details about the project on which they're working. This will show them that you're paying attention and you're interested in what they're passionate about.

12. Hold a door for someone.

I've been holding doors open for people who are indecisive or just too busy to figure out if they want to hold the door. I'm not going to turn down a free door opening because it's a small gesture that will show someone how much you appreciate them and want to be helpful. It might take some effort for you, but if the other person is in a hurry, holding the door open can create an atmosphere of knowledge and independence from others.

13. Keep a safe distance from other people when you're waiting for the elevator or escalator.

When someone is standing in front of an elevator or escalator, it's okay to think that they want to get on and move forward without you. But most people are used to people standing in front of them, and actually waiting for the opportunity to be next, so it's better than letting them stand there alone and feeling like they've been left behind by the rest of us. Offer your space by stepping back or letting them know that you're willing to let them get on first if they're ready.

14. Be mindful of others when you're driving your car.

This is a good rule to follow when you're stuck in traffic or bumper to bumper, on the road and behind someone. You should never honk at someone in front of you or turn into their path if they're trying to get out of your way. The same goes for drivers turning right, left or otherwise changing lanes.

15. Call out "thank you" when someone says something nice.

This is a simple one, but it's so easy to forget when we're in a rush or just not paying attention to what others are saying. Obviously it's great if your kids thank you for the candy but it's also nice if people compliment others on things that they've done. If you want to keep this up, think about how many times you can thank them each day and how often you'll be able to say "thank you" on the spot each time.

Finally

At the end of the day, they're just people. Yes, they're our colleagues, managers or bosses and we need to treat them that way, but they're also still human beings. The rest of the world is not going to fall apart if you fail to smile at them or give them a compliment once in a while. If you learn what's important to other people and how to show them how much their work means to you by giving out compliments or small gestures of your own, then that's what really matters over all else.