University Grooming Etiquette Walking in Company Business Social Etiquette

Outclass the Competition
by Harold Almon

In business, a junior person is to walk to the street side, or one step to the left and behind any senior person.

A senior person can walk to the left of a junior person. When this happens, a junior male is to walk behind a senior person until he can get to the other side. An employed woman is to be regarded according to her job position. In social life, a woman is to be regarded as a senior person.

Step back to let others come out of any doorway, room, elevator, or area in which you wish to enter.

Hold a door open from the side for any person in front of or immediately behind you going out of or into a doorway. Push any swinging door; go through first. You can pull any swinging door, or step back from an automatic door, and let a person precede or follow according to his or her sex or seniority. (People will notice.)

A senior person is to precede a junior person and a “Host” in going into or out of a doorway or office. Say, “Please,” to acknowledge the senior person. This person can say, “I insist.” You may say, “I yield,” “I am honored” “Thank you,” or “Sir.” The junior person is to know when to give up the fight.

You can offer to enter and exit an elevator or any doorway last. This is a right of a host or hostess. It is the duty of any person in his or her own country. Peers can go through a doorway shoulder to shoulder.

In social life, a woman in a line is to precede any man with her, unless he can in some way help by going first. In official life, an official in a line is to precede the person with him or her.

A designated escort may walk to the left and ahead of a visitor when escorting him or her into an unfamiliar area.

When walking alone, in the United States of America, walk to the right. Honor is to the right. When walking with a senior person, walk to the left and one-step behind, or to the street side.

When a senior person stops to talk to someone, to use an ATM, or to write a check, the junior person is to step back or to walk ahead slowly. The senior person is to be allowed to decide if introductions are in order.

Walk erect: as if your back rib cage is against a wall. Stop for red lights. You are walking and I can hear you. And if I do, time to learn a new way of walking or to get new shoes. Advancing is to be done on the balls of the feet. (It can be controlled from each quadrant listed for midsection management.)

Pausing - Working a Room

Learn to pause (often.) Pausing is an action that will allow you to take control of a room or to give notice of your intent to leave one. It can allow you to make your presence known without disrupting or upstaging anyone. It may let you get a little extra from being where you are.

Pausing could be done at the top of a stairs, in a hallway, doorway, or center of a room, by a mere stop. You might allow yourself to act as if you have entered a limelight. This is an especially useful thing to do, if you really do have a “bad” knee. A pause is to be enjoyed. Take a breath, or make a small noise so that someone can see you. Continue your walk in company.