Common courtesy-what does that entail? Today's fast paced, "gotta have it now" mentality has hastened the demise of common courtesy. Just look at the fact that the whole month of July is set aside to help us remember to practice common courtesy with our cell phones. With that in mind, I present five ways you can extend common courtesy to those with whom you come in contact.

Turn Off Your Cellphone

When you find yourself in a business meeting or even just with a group of friends, do you forget to show your client or friends this common courtesy? The first thing to do, even before you shake the person's hand, is turn off your cell phone - or at least put it on vibrate. This is not the only courteous move you should make, but it is on the top of the list.

Interrupting

Another common courtesy I often see cast aside is over-talking or interrupting the other person. If you are afraid you will forget your point, then either jot a quick note or word or realize your point may not be all that important. You don't need to write a tome, which would be a discourteous thing to do; just write one word that will easily remind you of what you wanted to say. That is all you need to do, and it is something that is done every day in court by attorneys. This brings me to another pet peeve.

Listen Attentively

When the other person is speaking, pay full attention. Don't let your mind wander or even try to begin formulating what you are going to say in response to what they are saying. Until you have heard all they have to say, you can never tell what response you should give. Now, I'll give you another suggestion that you may not normally consider.

Keep It Short

Droning on-and-on or repeating over-and-over, again-and-again, is a total waste of your listener's time. Be respectful, listen attentively, and respond clearly and concisely. In this way you will show that you respect your customer or client's time. This brings me to my last dreaded social faux pas.

Playing Mr. or Ms. Know-It-All

A word of advice; just don't! If you don't know the answer to a question, say so. You should never, under any circumstance, talk just to seem important. When asked a question about which you have no knowledge, either defer to someone else who may be able to help, or say something like this: "That's a great question. Let me see what I can find out, and I'll get back to you." This gives you the opportunity to schedule another meeting with this individual and guarantees that when you call on them, they will answer.

Showing you respect and appreciate your customers, clients, associates, and assistants will make you stand out in their minds. Now your customers will remember you when they need your services and the people who work for you may just do a better job. So, remember to show common courtesy to everyone you work with and reap the benefits of a smile or kind word (or a referral) that is sure to come your way.