Manners Influence Success

One’s EQ, (“Etiquette Quotient” or “Emotional Quotient”) has a tremendous influence on one’s success. Manners and disposition, including courtesy toward others, tact, self control, consistent temperament and adherence to customs, were also cited as factors that influenced success.    

Speaker Discussed the Importance of Personality and Soft Skills Needed for Employment and Advancement, in 1956

F. N. Laird, a specialist in human relations, talked before high school students in Orange County yesterday. Laird emphasized that good personal qualities are of utmost importance to employers. Of some 5000 who had recently lost job opportunities, he said, a large percentage failed because of “good personal qualities” such as dependability, cooperativeness, friendliness. 

At Yale University, a group of engineers indicated that salary was definitely affected by personal qualities, as well IQ and training. In fact, the percentage with the best personal qualities made an average of *$2,200.00 more annually than the percentage with poor personal qualities, although both groups had equal training, Laird said. 

Among the qualities that the average person is judged on, some are physical and others of a “spiritual” nature, he stated. Physical qualities include health, neatness, poise, carriage, and dress; dual qualities include such character traits as dependability, sincerity, courage, consideration, mutuality. 

Other spiritual traits he named as those influencing others, were “dynamic force,” magnetism, enthusiasm, power of expression, animation and social grace. Manners and disposition, including courtesy toward others, tact, self-control, consistent tempermenent and adherance to customs, were also cited as factors influencing success. – April, 1956

*The average salary in the U.S. in 1957 was only $3,700.00 per year.

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Exacting Etiquette for Employment

“Amanuensis” – One who is an artistic or literary assistant. In particular one who can take dictation or copy manuscripts. – He should be a good penman, of agreeable address and genteel appearance, fond of composing, and apt at learning to write in cipher. He should have a smattering of French, and be familiar with the forms and etiquette of correspondence.

An Exacting Miss? Or a Hoax? 

If we are much mistaken the following advertisement for a nice young man, which appeared in the Cleaveland Plain Dealer, was rather a hoax:

A lady, temporarily obliged to lay aside the duties and pleasures of writing, wishes to engage the leisure hours of a young gentleman in the duties of an amanuensis. He should be a good penman, of agreeable address and genteel appearance, fond of composing, and apt at learning to write in cipher. He should have a smattering of French, and be familiar with the forms and etiquette of correspondence. When not employed in writing, he will be expected to read with good taste and expression, be fond of poetry and music — to converse with gayety and spirit, and be familiar with cribbage and back-gammon. The compensation will be handsome, and no person need apply who is not neat in dress, younger than thirty, and an enemy to tobacco, poor puns, and the conventionalities of society. Communications with specimens of style, etc., directed to 'H, box 566, Cleveland post office,' will be promptly answered by appointment of time and place of interview. – The Weekly Alta, 1869

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia  

Dismissed for Poor Etiquette

 "I am directed by his Excellency to state that the remark you were heard to make on his Excellency's beer at the late Viceregal Ball was neither courteous nor proper."

Etiquette in the Colonies

Mr. C. B. Croons, a contractor of Melbourne, having been declared by the Governor of the colony unfit to hold the appointment of a government contractor, wrote to the Colonial Secretary requesting to know what offense he had given, to which he received the following reply : 

"Colonial Secretary's office, June 3. 1855. Sir— His Excellency, the Governor, having duly considered your request to be informed of the grave charges brought against you, which have caused your dismissal, and having thought fit to accede to such request, I am directed by his Excellency to state that the remark you were heard to make on his Excellency's beer at the late Viceregal Ball was neither courteous nor proper. And, furthermore, that the want of discretion was aggravated by your recumbent bearing and gestures while in the act of leaving the supper room.

His Excellency, at the same time, directs me to state that although the offense would in itself come under the heading of extreme indiscretion, yet having been committed on a great state occasion, where court etiquette was obviously enforced on all sides, his Excellency had no other course open to him than to order your immediate public dismissal and official disgrace, independent of the fact of the bad example set by you to all other government contractors, whose duty it is at all times, and more especially in public, to support and countenance all articles of consumption furnished by official contract. I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, J. Moore, A. C. S. Charles B. Croons, Esq." – Daily Alta, 1855

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Moderator and Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia