Winning with Politeness

Politeness is far more than saying, please, thank you, and using the right fork at dinner. Scouts and Scouters know that to be polite is a state of mind, a behavioral pattern that touches every person you come in contact with. It is also part of the Scout Law; A Scout is Courteous. It is not stuffy or cold but welcoming and warm. Politeness shows care for others and a desire to put others first. The well-known authority on manners, Emily Post, said, “Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use.”

Somewhere along life’s journey, we get the false impression that good manners are snobbish and too uppity for everyday use. Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is the lack of common politeness that causes people to be dishonest, greedy, self-centered, and hurtful. Many of the problems we face today in our society are nothing but a lack of people being polite to each other. Think that is too simple an excuse? Just think about it, how would the people you know personally be different if they all treated each other politely? 

“One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.”

Josh Billings

1818-1885

Writer

Scouts also know that having good manners and being polite will open more doors in business than anything they know or offer. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said, “Good manners will open doors the best education cannot.” Nineteenth-Century English Clergyman Richard Whately said, “Manners are one of the greatest engines of influence ever given to man.” The polite person is more excepted and welcomes into the business world than the one who has ten degrees and is rude.

Being polite is good for the heart as well. Here is an experiment for you to do. For one week, pay close attention to how you act toward others. These are the people you work with, your family, the waitress in the coffee shop, or the person on the street. You don’t have to change anything, just be aware. The next week, do all you can to be polite to each of these people. Be pleasant, kind, and show excellent manners. Now notice how you feel at the end of the day. Polite, Scouts, and Scouters know that tons of stress fall away just by being courteous. You will find others also treat you kinder and more welcoming. It is as philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said, “Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.”

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business, or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2020 John Patrick Hickey