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Simply Good Manners: Sir, Ma'am,You're welcome and Thank You
Sunday, May 18, 2014 21:44
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Via Susan
“Sir” and “Ma'am”
American culture is pretty informal compared to many other places in the world, but a little bit of formality can really make you stand out in a positive way. I carry this inclination from the military, and also from having been a lawyer in the federal court system. These are environments in which people use the titles “Sir” and “Ma'am” constantly–not just in talking with high ranking military officers, but also addressing civilians.
I know that this doesn't work in every situation, but using these titles can be a sign of respect that gets people's attention. It can be important in professional relationships, especially when dealing with people you don't know well, and who are older or more experienced than you.
Words No. 3 and 4: “You're welcome.”
Sometime in fairly recent history it seems people stopped saying, “You're welcome,” and started substituting, “Yep,” or, “No problem.” At the risk of sounding older than I am, I think this is a step in the wrong direction–at least in a business or professional setting.
Why? Because ditching “you're welcome” for these other phrases changes the message. “You're welcome” acknowledges that you've done something worth someone else's thanks, while “no problem” suggests that it wasn't that big of a deal. Saying the former phrase conveys that you think it was a worthwhile favor. That's an impressive message to send.
Source: http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2014/05/simply-good-manners-sir-maamyoure.html
