The norms of business and everyday communication, the rules of behavior at the table, and especially the interaction between the sexes are changing.
Kissing a woman's hand is now considered pretentious and intrusive, not polite.
You shouldn't embarrass anyone, even if you really want to express your sympathy and show yourself to be a gentleman. People of either sex should be greeted with a handshake in business situations and a handshake or hug in an informal atmosphere – depending on your relationship with the person. Did you know that it was considered acceptable to kiss the hand only of a married lady? In the past, unmarried women were greeted with a slight bow, although, of course, different countries had their own peculiarities of greeting.
It is not necessary to make a toast with a glass of alcohol
Today, giving up alcohol is a widespread and positive trend, and a healthy lifestyle is in fashion. In addition, there may be other, less obvious reasons why a person would refuse even a sip of champagne on the most solemn occasion, in particular, due to health problems. Therefore, you should not pressure anyone or even ask unnecessary questions. Now it is quite rightly considered rude, not polite, to insist that an adult drink alcohol, and there is nothing wrong with raising a glass of water with everyone after listening to the toast.
The husband does not have to pay.
The golden rule of modern etiquette is: “He who invites pays.” Not everyone agrees with this, but today a man is not obliged to pay for lunch or dinner with a woman. In the business sphere, gender does not matter: if a female manager invites her male partner to lunch, she pays. Splitting the bill is now quite appropriate. Splitting the bill on dates is becoming the norm in Europe and the USA, although in Ukraine the “man pays” tradition is still very strong.
A call without warning is the new “invasion without knocking ”
Previously, a phone call was considered a sign of attention, but in the era of instant messaging, a sudden call is perceived as a gross violation of personal space and a demand for an immediate response. Modern etiquette dictates: first a short message with the question “Is it convenient to talk?”, and only after confirmation – a call. This applies to both business and friendly contacts (except for force majeure and immediate relatives).
Men shouldn't open doors for women.
This is also a somewhat ambiguous situation, where opinions differ. Of course, it is unacceptable to slam doors in the face of a lady, but, gentlemen, you should not create unnecessary fuss, trying to open every door. Modern etiquette dictates a simple rule of convenience: the one who walks in front holds the door for the one who walks behind – regardless of gender. This should be perceived as ordinary human courtesy and care, and not as an obligatory ritual or an attempt to please.
Elbows on the table are not fatal
This rule comes from medieval England, when dinners were served on unstable stands. By leaning your elbows on such a table, you risked tipping the structure over and ruining the meal for those present. Those times are long gone, but the rule has not completely disappeared. Putting your elbows on the table while eating is still considered bad manners, but during breaks between courses or during a conversation without cutlery, it is no longer considered rude. On the contrary, by leaning towards the interlocutor and leaning on your elbows at such a moment, you can show your interest and attention.
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