The idea of developing a company around civility, etiquette, and communication came to me in 2014. I did not know if anything such as this existed. I just thought it was needed, especially with today’s adolescents. I noticed that they were struggling to communicate with adults. They were regularly tethered to their technology. They did not show what I thought were basic social graces in public settings. Though we are in the South and have access to Cotillion, I thought there may be a more modern way to address my concerns. So, toward the end of 2015, after spending a lot of time and energy talking about it, I started Everyday Manners, LLC.
I started with mini-camps during the school year and in the summer for elementary, middle, and high schoolers. Parents thought it was a great idea and saw it as valuable. The young people had to be convinced that it could be fun and useful in getting what you want out of life. (That is a work in progress!)
In 2017, I branched out to focus on young people preparing for adulthood. I wanted to aid in the transition from high school to the real world. I focused on how to appropriately and successfully communicate with peers and adults. How to converse, interact, and work with others was the goal. I developed workshops around the art of conversation, how to read social cues, interview, establish connections with others, and how to network. These topics were used in group and individual settings.
Now, my focus has been on creating a corporate training program. I have developed Signature Talks, workshops/seminars, and in-depth training around civility, communication (internally and externally), customer service, manners in the workplace, and company culture and how it relates to employee and client retention. Though this is geared toward businesses and organizations, it easily converts to lessons for all in society. Already this year, I have presented to high schoolers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, college students, and corporate staffers.
So, what’s my “why?” A society (group, organization, place of work, family, community, corporation) cannot function without working together. Connections to others are the basic threads of human existence. If we can’t get that right, all else will falter. We are seeing that in families, with individuals, in governments, and even between countries.
I want people to understand that civility is a valuable characteristic, that effective communication skills, social courtesies, and simple humanity are essential in a progressive society. I want people to understand that your behavior and how you treat others (whether you are seen or not) affects everything, from how you make friends, to securing jobs, to how you receive goods and services, to living a happy life. It all boils down to how you connect to others.
This is why I do what I do. I want to be a part of the solution. I want to share what I know and have learned with those who could use the skills and knowledge to live their best life. Everyone should have the opportunity to BE and to be their best selves.
I am Margarette Coleman with Everyday Manners Training & Consulting. How can I help?