The skills you need guide to interpersonal skills

‘A TIME AND A PLACE’: 
POLITENESS AND HONESTY 
IN COMMUNICATIONS
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44
2.
ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS
HOW TO BE POLITE
Being polite means being aware of and respecting the feelings of other 
people. We may not always notice politeness but we usually notice 
rudeness or inconsiderate behaviour.
Politeness can and will improve your relationships with others, help to 
build respect and rapport, boost your self-esteem and confidence, and 
improve your communication skills.
Although some of this may seem obvious, it is very easy to overlook 
social manners. This is a pity, as being polite and demonstrating good 
social etiquette can improve your relationships with others.
It is easy to recognise when people are rude or inconsiderate but often 
more difficult to recognise these traits in yourself. Think carefully about 
the impressions you leave on others and how you can easily avoid being 
considered ill-mannered or ignorant.
POLITENESS GUIDELINES
Always use common sense and try to behave as appropriately as possible, 
taking into account any cultural differences.

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45
2.
ADVANCED COMMUNICATION SKILLS
SOME GENERAL GUIDELINES 
FOR POLITE BEHAVIOUR