The Business Case for Good Manners with etiquette coach William Hanson | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

1. SSSimon Sinek0:00

   What are some of the specific things that you have seen that a lot of people get wrong

2. WHWilliam Hanson0:04

   It's when you are having a conversation at a networking event, cocktail party, what- whatever it is. A lot of people, sort of, what you'll be doing a story about a skiing accident, for example, that you've had. You were on, you were skiing 10 years ago, you had some accident. And most people seem to, will listen to that and will be thinking, "What story do I have about an accident I've had on holiday?"

3. SSSimon Sinek0:25

   Right.

4. WHWilliam Hanson0:26

   Rather than, "Let me ask you a follow-up question."

5. SSSimon Sinek0:28

   Yeah.

6. WHWilliam Hanson0:28

   Let you have that moment. Whereas people are obsessed with trying to match or beat the story, and it becomes competitive.

7. SSSimon Sinek0:35

   Mm.

8. WHWilliam Hanson0:36

   Because we have become so insecure, I think, generally, people feel that they need, or they feel they need, again, to bond. Oh, to bond, I've got to say that I've gone through the same process as you.

9. SSSimon Sinek0:44

   Yeah.

10. WHWilliam Hanson0:44

    It's very tiring.

11. SSSimon Sinek0:45

    It is said that manners maketh the man. That was said in the 14th century. So 600 years later, do our manners really say something about who we are? According to William Hanson, our manners absolutely say something about who we are, but not for the reasons most people might think.

12. WHWilliam Hanson1:06

    How to eat a pain au chocolat.

13. SSSimon Sinek1:08

    William is an etiquette coach from England and the executive director of The English Manner, an etiquette and protocol coaching company, and his latest book, Just Good Manners, is now available in the US. He knows a thing or two about how to use our cutlery and a lot more.

14. WHWilliam Hanson1:26

    What's the difference between an arrival time for a social occasion and a business occasion?

15. SSSimon Sinek1:32

    Where most people think that good manners is about showing off or trying to look or sound upper class, in reality, good manners are about making other people feel like they matter, which is a very good reason why we should all practice good manners. This is A Bit of Optimism. This episode is brought to you by True Classic. I'm so proud that True Classic is a sponsor, 'cause I really like their company, and I really like their CEO, and I really love their clothes as well. I've been wearing their T-shirts long before they became a sponsor. Do check them out. We should talk about etiquette.

16. WHWilliam Hanson2:19

    Yes.

17. SSSimon Sinek2:20

    Um-

18. WHWilliam Hanson2:20

    We should

19. SSSimon Sinek2:20

    ... I am fascinated that, I don't know how to put this politely, I'm fascinated that you have a career.

20. WHWilliam Hanson2:32

    [laughs] Thank you. Well, my, my family is, is stunned I have a career, so.

21. SSSimon Sinek2:38

    Uh, because, not because there's no need for etiquette.

22. WHWilliam Hanson2:41

    Mm.

23. SSSimon Sinek2:42

    It's because it's less, it seems less of a thing in our modern day. Like, the Victorians talking about etiquette-

24. WHWilliam Hanson2:49

    Mm

25. SSSimon Sinek2:50

    ... and commenting on someone's etiquette-

26. WHWilliam Hanson2:52

    Yeah

27. SSSimon Sinek2:52

    ... and making sure that you have etiquette-

28. WHWilliam Hanson2:55

    Mm

29. SSSimon Sinek2:55

    ... was a thing.

30. WHWilliam Hanson2:56

    Yeah, it was very big for them.

Episode duration: 54:57