Little or few people know what courtesy means and its importance in different aspects of life.
Courtesy is not only important in communication but as well as other areas of life. But it plays a big role in the area of communication.
First of all, we need to know what courtesy is before we can know its importance.
“Courtesy is the showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behavior towards others.” As we can read from the definition, courtesy is showing politeness in your behavior or attitude toward others.
Despite one’s social or financial status in society, it is required for you to be courteous in your dealing with others.
It can be an “I am sorry” when you are wrong, or “please excuse me” when you need someone’s attention on something.
There are different ways one can show courtesy in your daily interactions with people. I just wanted us to be clear on what and how we can practice courtesy, hope you are following me? Of course, you are.
So now let’s see why it is important to be polite in our communication with others, remember that’s our topic, I know you would.
- IT MAKES PEOPLE LIKE YOU INSTANTLY
It is been said that the first impression is created within the first 6 seconds of interaction, that being said, those first 6 seconds will determine if the person would like you or dislike you, and liking you or disliking you would depend on your manner of communication. Many people just feel too proud which makes them insensitive and bossy when around people. Practicing courtesy in your communication with people would make people like you instantly. - IT GIVES YOU RESPECT AND VALUE
Unlike people who think that being bossy and domineering can earn them respect and value, little do they know that it only scares away people from you. It is one thing to fear someone and it is another thing to respect the person. Many people mistake fear for respect which is not true. Respect brings value while fear doesn’t.
Everybody loves to be respected and also shows respect for anyone who respects them, politeness shows respect and value so when you show respect to others in your communication with them, they tend to reciprocate. - IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND YOU
You will agree with this when you reflect back on your best teacher in secondary, it must be one who is courteous. Nobody likes to be around rude and bossy people because it makes them feel uncomfortable, like we read earlier everybody wants to be respected and they are also comfortable around those who value them.
So if you want people around you all the time then you have to adopt the attitude of courtesy. - YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY
Due to the fact that people like you and are comfortable with you, they would also like to be your friend, making friends can really help you in many ways, you never even know which person is helping you in the future so being polite and kind in your communication and Interaction can really give you a high tendency of making friends easily. Rude people don’t make friends but enemies and haters which in turn makes the environment and society toxic to stay in.
Even the bible said “If it’s possible be at peace with all men”, and that is only possible when you are courteous. - IT MAKES PEOPLE FLOW WELL WITH THE MESSAGE YOU ARE PASSING
Even when people have opposite views to your own view they would listen to you and reason with you when you express your view politely without any form of intimidation. Let me give you an example,
During an argument, If you want the other person to reason your point and even agree with it even though they don’t actually do, you can use the phrase “I think you are right but I also think” and then you make your own point. They would feel correct and comfortable because you have said they are right, then they have no other choice than to reason your point with you and this is an act of courtesy. Rather than forcing your point of view on others, you can simply claim to agree with them even though you don’t before you make your point.
NB: Even though you have authority over that person or you are higher in level
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