How can I be socially savvy? Can anyone have class or good manners? These are frequently asked questions. The answer is: It’s a matter of the heart and common sense. When the two come together something wonderful happens. The rules of etiquette are learned, and good manners come from the heart.

Since a socially savvy lady and gentleman must always be on their best behavior, I have listed excellent and easy etiquette tips in order to be socially savvy in social situations.

The socially savvy lady knows:

• She puts her cell phone on manner mode and keeps it in her handbag on a date. She looks at her watch to tell time – not her cell phone so as not to appear to be taking a quick check of her text messages.
• Never hesitates to wait for a gentleman to pull out the chair or open a door.
• She may allow her date to order for her, but it is perfectly acceptable to order for herself.
• If she must bend over to pick up something, she bends from the knees—never sticking her “behind” in the air.
• She never points with her dining utensils, and blots her lipstick in order not to stain the napkin or smear it on the crystal.
• If she must excuse herself from the dinner table to visit the lady’s room, she simply says, “Excuse me.” No further details are necessary.
• A classy lady wears clothes that are not so revealing that they embarrass others. And if she is unsure how to dress for a party, she knows to simply ask the host.
• She never places items, such as sunglasses, keys, a portfolio, or her cell phone on the table when dining. Items as such belong on in her bag. Her handbag belongs down to the side of her seat, or, for a small clutch or crystal embellished stone bag, by all means, she keeps it in her lap.
• She sits facing away from the front door of a restaurant, with the exception of wall seating when her date sits in the chair facing the wall and the lady sits against the wall facing out.
• When making her way down a row in a crowded theater, she faces the people who are already in their seats—she never forces others to stare at her backside as she makes her way down the row.

Every socially savvy gentleman knows the following tips:

• He asks for a date by calling or asking in person if at all possible.
• He always opens doors for ladies - this is still the proper thing to do.
• He goes first in a revolving door, so he can push it for his date.
• He walks on the side of the street. (Chivalry is not dead!)
• He never hesitates to pull out a chair for a lady.
• He stands when being introduced and remains standing until his lady is seated.
• He knows that his date always sits to his right, unless sitting in wall & booth seating.
• If he extends the invitation—he pays! (And in any cases he offers to pay.)
• His eyes are always on his date. He never allows his eyes to stray to other women or to the television on the wall behind her head.
• His cell phone is always on manner mode, and he would never carry on a cell phone conversation in a public place or check his email message at the dining table.
• A sophisticated man knows about the BMW. (the BMW’s of dining) Bread on left, Meal in center, Water on right
• He NEVER uses a toothpick or chews gum.
• He recognizes that “Being a gentleman” overrules all other rules!

Joy Weaver is a renowned etiquette expert and author of “Just Ask Joy… How to Be Socially Savvy in All Situations”—a book highly endorsed by Jean and Zig Ziglar. Joy represents designer Joseph Ribkoff and is a regular guest on ABC’s Good Morning Texas. She is nationally published and has been featured on ABC’s The View, in the Associated Press, New York Times, USA Today, Southern Living Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and The Dallas Business Journal. Protocol Enterprises/Just Ask Joy is based in Dallas and has served clients across the country since 2000. You can learn more at www.justaskjoy.com, or follow her at Socially Savvy on Facebook or Twitter.

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