Service Etiquette training for NRC PAO

1. SERVICE ETIQUETTE
From Service Etiquette by Oretha D. Swartz
Naval Institute Press, Annapolis
Presented by Betsy Bird 12 20 2012

2. MANNERS AND DRESS
 One of the most valuable habits you can acquire is to be on time.
 For a dinner party, you should not arrive before the hour named. It is
permissible to arrive up to 15 mins after the stated time and should stay
from 30 to 45 mins after dinner if nothing is planned.
 At a very important social function, you should not leave until after the
guest of honor or the high-ranking guest departs.
 All social invitations are answered promptly, within a day or two.
 Do not fail to reply to an R.S.V.P.
 After a special occasion, a note of thanks is in order.

3. ART OF CONVERSATION
 Be a good listener.
 Learn to remember names and faces
 Put shy persons at ease by getting them to talk about
hobbies, pets, children, or known interests.
 Talk in a moderate tone of voice
 Keep your eyes and ears open – and occasionally your
mouth shut..

4. ART OF CONVERSATION
Do not:
 Say anything about a person that you would not want that person to
hear.
 Interrupt or contradict others
 Monopolize a conversation or talk endlessly
 Exclude anyone from a conversational group.
 Give the state of your health when someone asks “How are you?”
 Talk business at a social gathering

5. GOOD TABLE MANNERS
 Napkins are placed at the left of the fork. At the end of the
meal, replace the napkin unfolded at the left of your plate.
 Do not talk with food in your mouth, make noises while
eating or swallowing, chew food with your mouth open, or
blow on hot liquids to cool them.
 Do not rise out of your seat to reach something on the
table.
 Do not place your elbows on the table while eating.

6. GOOD TABLE MANNERS
 Be careful of controversial or unpleasant subjects.
 Do not pick up dropped silverware. Ask for another.
 Leave the table if necessary when sneezing or coughing.
 If a person is choking, he needs help immediately. Be
familiar with the Heimlich Maneuver.
 Know the difference between silverware (i.e., the dinner
fork, salad fork and dessert fork.) Be familiar with place
settings.

7. GOOD TABLE MANNERS
 How to eat various foods:
 Cake: with a fork when served as a dessert
 Ice cream: with a fork and/or spoon.
 Olives: hold in the fingers; place stones on butter plate.
Small olives are eaten whole.
 Onion rings: with a fork
 Pickles: with a fork

8. TOASTS
 When you are the one receiving the toast at a table, you
remain seated while everyone else stands, and you do not sip
your drink.
 After everyone else sits, you may rise and thank them and
offer a toast in return.
 If you are making the toast, be well-prepared
 When you tell an amusing story or joke, don’t laugh at it
yourself.
 Never tell a story which may reflect adversely on the person
being toasted.

9. MORAL OBLIGATIONS
 Always remember that your word – or signature – is your
bond.
 Think twice before you make promises.
 Be honest and direct in all your dealings.
 If you do not know the answer to a question, do not
attempt to answer it. Answer only as much as you can
without being misleading. It is better to say “I don’t know” if
you don’t know!

10. FINAL THOUGHTS
 Be kind to others.
 Be responsive to invitations and RSVP on time.
 Thank others by handwritten note or telephone for dinners,
receptions and social gatherings that are special occasions.
 Prepare yourself in advance for social events if you are
unsure of protocol.
 Keep a copy of an etiquette book available for late night
reading. 