Life Hacks

Impressing your boss can be beneficial for a number of reasons. It can lead to opportunities for advancement and recognition within the company, and help you build a positive working relationship with your boss. This, in turn, can make your job more enjoyable and rewarding.

Additionally, impressing your boss can lead to increased trust and responsibility, which can open up new opportunities for growth and development within the company. Ultimately, impressing your boss can be beneficial for both your personal and professional growth and success.

Impressing your boss can seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually an important part of career advancement and success. Not only can it lead to promotions and salary increases, but it can also improve your relationship with your boss and create a positive work environment.

In this article, we’ll explore the various benefits of impressing your boss and provide tips on how to do so effectively.

Benefits of Impressing Your Boss:

1. Improved job opportunities and promotions:
   • A good impression on your boss can lead to better job opportunities and promotions within the company. When your boss trusts and values your work, they are more likely to consider you for new roles or give you a raise.
2. Stronger professional relationships:
   • Impressing your boss helps build trust and respect, leading to stronger professional relationships. This can be particularly important for those who are new to the company and looking to make a good impression.
3. Personal and professional growth:
   • Impressing your boss can also help you develop important skills and improve your work performance. When you receive positive feedback and recognition from your boss, it can boost your confidence and help you become a more valuable member of the team.

Tips for Impressing Your Boss:

Go above and beyond in your work.

Going above and beyond in your work means putting in extra effort and going beyond the expectations or requirements of a task or project.

This can involve taking on additional responsibilities, seeking out new challenges, and putting in extra time and effort to ensure that your work is of the highest quality.

There are a few key ways to go above and beyond in your work:

1. Set high standards for yourself:
   • Make a commitment to excellence and strive to meet or exceed your own high standards on every task.
2. Take initiative:
   • Look for opportunities to take on additional responsibilities or projects, and take the initiative to suggest new ideas or approaches to your work.
3. Go the extra mile:
   • Put in extra effort to ensure that your work is thorough, accurate, and of the highest quality.
4. Seek out learning and development opportunities:
   • Invest in your own growth and development by seeking out opportunities to learn new skills or knowledge that will help you improve your performance.

By going above and beyond in your work, you can demonstrate your commitment to excellence, build your reputation as a reliable and capable employee, and set yourself up for success in your career.

Build strong relationships with your colleagues and demonstrate strong teamwork skills.

Building strong relationships with your colleagues and demonstrating strong teamwork skills are important for success in any job or career.

Strong relationships and teamwork skills can help you work effectively with others, achieve common goals, and build a positive and productive work environment.

1. Communicate effectively:
   • Good communication is key to any successful relationship. Take the time to listen to your colleagues and be clear and concise in your own communication.
2. Show respect:
   • Treat your colleagues with respect and kindness, and be willing to listen to their ideas and perspectives.
3. Be reliable:
   • Follow through on your commitments and be dependable. This helps build trust and respect within a team.
4. Help others:
   • Offer your support and assistance to your colleagues when they need it. This helps to foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration.
5. Collaborate:
   • Work with your colleagues to find solutions to challenges and to achieve common goals. This requires a willingness to listen to others, consider their ideas, and work together to find the best solution.

Here are a few ways to build strong relationships with your colleagues and demonstrate strong teamwork skills:

By building strong relationships with your colleagues and demonstrating strong teamwork skills, you can contribute to a positive and productive work environment and help your team achieve success.

Show enthusiasm and a positive attitude in your work.

Showing enthusiasm and a positive attitude in your work can have a number of benefits. Enthusiasm and a positive attitude can help you feel more motivated and energized, which can in turn help you perform better and be more productive. They can also help you build better relationships with your colleagues and contribute to a positive and supportive work environment.

Here are a few ways to show enthusiasm and a positive attitude in your work:

1. Be engaged:
   • Show interest in your work and what you are doing. This can help you stay motivated and energized.
2. Be positive:
   • Look for the good in every situation and try to stay positive, even when things get tough. This can help you stay motivated and keep a good attitude.
3. Be proactive:
   • Take the initiative and be proactive in your work. This can help you stay engaged and motivated.
4. Be willing to learn:
   • Be open to learning new things and trying new approaches. This can help you stay engaged and energized.
5. Be supportive:
   • Offer support and encouragement to your colleagues. This can help create a positive and supportive work environment.

By showing enthusiasm and a positive attitude in your work, you can help create a positive and productive work environment and set yourself up for success.

Continuously seek opportunities for learning and growth.

Continuously seeking opportunities for learning and growth is an important aspect of personal and professional development. Lifelong learning helps you stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your field, develop new skills, and stay engaged and motivated in your work.

Here are a few ways to continuously seek opportunities for learning and growth:

1. Be open to learning new things:
   • Keep an open mind and be willing to try new things. This can help you discover new interests and areas of growth.
2. Set learning goals:
   • Identify specific areas where you want to grow and develop, and set learning goals to help you achieve those objectives.
3. Seek out learning opportunities:
   • Look for opportunities to learn new things, such as attending workshops, taking online courses, or participating in professional development programs.
4. Learn from others:
   • Seek out mentors and colleagues who can offer guidance and support as you grow and develop.
5. Practice continuous learning:
   • Make learning a continuous part of your life by regularly seeking out new knowledge and skills.

By continuously seeking opportunities for learning and growth, you can stay engaged and motivated in your work and set yourself up for success in your career.

Take on additional responsibilities.

Taking on additional responsibilities can be a great way to demonstrate your dedication and commitment to your work, as well as to challenge yourself and grow personally and professionally. However, it’s important to be mindful of your workload and capabilities, and to make sure you are able to handle the additional responsibilities before taking them on.

Here are a few tips for taking on additional responsibilities:

1. Communicate with your supervisor:
   • Talk to your supervisor about your desire to take on additional responsibilities, and ask for their guidance and support.
2. Assess your workload and capabilities:
   • Make sure you have the time and resources to handle additional responsibilities before taking them on.
3. Set clear goals and expectations:
   • Work with your supervisor to set clear goals and expectations for the additional responsibilities you will be taking on, and establish a plan for how to achieve those goals.

By taking on additional responsibilities, you can demonstrate your commitment to your work and set yourself up for success in your career.

Go the extra mile.

Going the extra mile means putting in extra effort and going above and beyond the expectations or requirements of a task or project.

This can involve taking on additional responsibilities, seeking out new challenges, and putting in extra time and effort to ensure that your work is of the highest quality.

There are a few key ways to go the extra mile in your work:

1. Go above and beyond:
   • Put in extra effort to ensure that your work is thorough, accurate, and of the highest quality.

By going the extra mile in your work, you can demonstrate your commitment to excellence, build your reputation as a reliable and capable employee, and set yourself up for success in your career.

Show initiative.

Showing initiative means taking the initiative to identify and address problems, suggest new ideas or approaches, and seek out new opportunities and challenges.

It involves being proactive and proactive in your work, rather than simply reacting to the tasks and responsibilities that are given to you.

Here are a few ways to show initiative in your work:

1. Identify problems or areas for improvement:
   • Look for opportunities to identify problems or areas for improvement in your work or in your organization, and think about ways to address them.
2. Suggest new ideas or approaches:
   • Be willing to share your ideas and perspectives, and be open to trying new approaches to your work.
3. Take on additional responsibilities:
   • Look for opportunities to take on additional responsibilities or projects, and be willing to step up and take the lead when needed.
4. Be proactive:
   • Anticipate and address potential problems or challenges before they arise.

By showing initiative, you can demonstrate your leadership skills, build your reputation as a proactive and capable employee, and set yourself up for success in your career

Communicate effectively.

Effective communication is crucial for success in any job or career. It involves being able to clearly convey information and ideas, as well as actively listen and understand the perspectives of others.

Good communication skills can help you build strong relationships, work effectively with others, and achieve common goals.

Here are a few tips for communicating effectively:

1. Be clear and concise:
   • Keep your message simple and to the point, and avoid using jargon or technical language that others may not understand.
2. Use appropriate communication channels:
   • Choose the most appropriate communication channel for the message and the audience, whether it be in-person, over the phone, via email, or through a messaging app.
3. Be active and engaged:
   • Use body language, eye contact, and other nonverbal cues to show that you are actively listening and engaged in the conversation.
4. Be open and honest:
   • Be transparent and authentic in your communication, and be willing to admit when you don’t know something or have made a mistake.
5. Seek feedback:
   • Ask for feedback on your communication skills, and be open to suggestions for improvement.

By communicating effectively, you can build strong relationships, work effectively with others, and achieve success in your career.

Take ownership of your mistakes.

Taking ownership of your mistakes means acknowledging and accepting responsibility for any errors or mistakes that you make, rather than denying or deflecting blame.

This involves being honest and transparent about your mistakes, and taking steps to correct them and prevent them from happening again in the future.

Here are a few tips for taking ownership of your mistakes:

1. Acknowledge your mistakes:
   • Be honest and transparent about your mistakes, and don’t try to deny or deflect blame.
2. Apologize:
   • If your mistake has affected others, take the time to apologize for your error.
3. Learn from your mistakes:
   • Reflect on what led to the mistake, and think about what you can do differently in the future to prevent similar mistakes from happening again.
4. Correct your mistakes:
   • Take steps to correct your mistakes, and work to resolve any issues or problems that may have resulted from your error.
5. Follow up:
   • Keep your supervisor or team informed about your progress in correcting your mistakes, and follow up to ensure that the issue has been resolved.

By taking ownership of your mistakes, you can demonstrate your integrity, build trust with your colleagues and supervisor, and improve your performance in the future.

Seek feedback and improvement.

Seeking feedback and improvement is an important part of personal and professional development. It involves seeking out feedback on your performance and actively seeking opportunities to improve and grow.

Here are a few ways to seek feedback and improvement:

1. Ask for feedback:
   • Ask your supervisor, colleagues, or mentor for feedback on your performance, and be open to constructive criticism.
2. Reflect on your performance:
   • Take the time to reflect on your work and think about areas where you can improve.
3. Set goals:
   • Identify specific areas where you want to grow and develop, and set goals to help you achieve those objectives.
4. Seek out mentorship:
   • Find a mentor or coach who can offer guidance and support as you grow and develop.

By seeking feedback and improvement, you can build on your strengths and address any weaknesses, and set yourself up for success in your career.

Conclusion:

Impressing your boss is essential for career advancement and personal and professional growth. By being proactive, meeting deadlines, communicating effectively, and seeking feedback and improvement, you can make a positive impression and stand out in your job.

To impress your boss also read: 48-advanced-business-terms-you-should-know

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Many tourists consider British cuisine delicious and diverse. tourists and even residents love the English dishes.

However, you should bear in mind that some of these dishes are occasionally made. Therefore, you are probably going to miss some of these desserts

For instance: you can only find a mince pie on Christmas. So if you are a tourist you are unlikely going to taste some of these dishes, especially some desserts. Yet you will be fortunate to try some.

This article is going to share 10 typical English dishes that everyone should try, It will also share a special British Breakfast and 7 different eating places where you can enjoy food, service and quality.

Let’s Start..

1. Crumpet:

This small thick pancake which contains holes is usually toasted or grilled. It can serve with butter or honey which melts and seeps into the holes.

2. Fudge:

Very soft and sweet, generally made from thick condensed milk with sugar. It usually comes in large square size.

3. Gooseberry tart:

Basically, this one is a cook baked filled with soft cooked fruit, Usually, the filling process is after the cooling of the pastry.

4. Toffee:

It’s mainly made from sugar water and flavoring. It’s usually hard-sweet.

5. Bun:

They usually made it from sweet bread dough. It can contain currants. Its shape is generally round, some families iced it for a better taste.

6. Scone:

Sweet and round, usually served with butter, jam, and thick double cream for tea. It can also be savory which can be made with cheese.

7. Trifle:

It is a dessert that is made from liars or sponge cake soaked in sherry, Jelly, and fruit topped with thick cold custard, it can also be decorated with cream.

8: quiche:  

Many people love this delicious baked flan pastry. When preparing the filling you should mix together the following: Eggs, Milk, and Cheese. Sometimes bacon and tomato are on the top.

9. Coleslaw:

A cold salad made from finely shredded white cabbage, some chopped onion add grated carrot mixed with mayonnaise or salad cream.

10. Mince pie:

English people do love these tarts. Especially, since these delicious tarts are traditional and made specifically for Christmas. The mince pie is a mixture of dried fruit and mixed peel, usually served with cream.

However, if you are visiting the UK out of the Christmas season, you are unlikely to find this pie as it is usually made at Christmas. Yet you should definitely try these delicious pies if you got the chance.

What makes British Breakfast special?

Main meals for English people:

English people are a bit different from Europeans, especially when it comes to food. Eating is considered a key issue. Even though English dishes seem to be simpler and much less spicy than other cuisines, it has always its highlights.

Bear in mind that the traditional pillars of English cuisines are breakfast and high tea. English people usually start their day with a breakfast that may seem lavish to most people on the continent.

For example the choice of cereal or fruit juice, there’s always a choice off

• Fried eggs,
• Ham and eggs,
• Scrambled eggs with sausage and grilled tomatoes,
• Fried kidneys or smoked fish.

In addition, there is porridge, oatmeal cooked in water and traditionally eaten with salt, Sometimes covered with plenty of fresh creams, Or stewed fruits, like prunes, apricots, or apples.

Afterward, you can have butter toasted with marmalade, jam, or honey, with the famous pot of tea. and you can just start enjoying your meal.

Usually, the tea is served strong and English people drink it with milk and sugar. In addition to the tea, you can also find different pills of ham, cheese, cucumber, and cold chicken on the table.

It is clear that High-Tea is a substantial meal for the British, and it is often eaten instead of late dinner. Therefore, on the tea table also be some pies such as apple pie, fruit cake, etc.

Please note that these meals will vary from class to class and also regionally, so please descriptions are guidelines and not rigid rules.

You may also be interested in reading: best-practices-what-not-to-do-at-a-dinner-table/

7 eating places can replace restaurants:

There is a lot of variety in eating places nowadays, ranging from cheap hamburger stands to luxurious restaurants with special decoration and furniture and of course exclusively chosen dishes.

Here are 7 different eating places where you can enjoy food, service and quality.

1. Cafeteria
2. Nightclub.
3. Snack bar
4. Canteen
5. Coffee shop
6. Take away
7. Grill-room or Steak-house

Coffee shop:

Usually, these eating places are connected to hotels, where you can order breakfast or meals. Yet this place has its own specialty serving a very good coffee and cakes.

Read more about: hotel-journey-from-check-in-to-check-out

Canteen:

A very cheap place where you can get your main meal, such as snacks and fresh drinks. Usually connected with schools, offices or factory

Cafeteria

Very small restaurants, mainly selling cakes, sandwiches, coffee and tea. The price is reasonable. They normally don’t serve alcoholic beverages.

Usually, you have to leave a tip, the reason is that waiters will come and serve you at your table. So to show a good gesture, try to tip at least 10%.

Nightclub:

They usually provide a full meal with alcoholic beverages, also you can enjoy some dancing or other entertainments.

Grillroom or steak house:

From its name is clear that this place is not for vegetarians. As they serve only grilled meats, and spirit drinks.

To raise the good experience in a steak house, you should definitely try the grilled meat with a slice of lime. You can always request extra lime.

Take away:

Most likely this place is for snacks. A consumer usually gets his/her food wrapped in paper for a box. You should know that you cannot have an alcoholic drink in such place.

Snack bar:

This place usually provides very quick meals, they are specialists in hamburgers sausages and sandwiches. Consumer should collect their food on trays at counters and carry it to their table.

That’s it for the eating places. Thank you for reading this article. You may also like: 10-typical-english-dishes-you-should-definitely-try

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Humans are social creatures, and it is normal to receive invitations from your family and friends. This article is going to provide you with some useful tips that will help you to produce a good impression when arriving at a party and also when taking leave.

Arriving at a party, what NOT to do?

Generally, when people arrive at a party are recommended to start with a simple greeting before, it could be formal or informal greeting. This depends on the type of invitation.

Read more about: formal-greetings-vs-informal-greetings

Usually, when you get there, you will meet the host first, he will help you and let you in. Then invite you for a drink. Meanwhile, their partner is most often in the kitchen preparing the food.

It is good when you arrive at first while the host is taking your coat to give them a compliment about their house which is considered a polite gesture.

For instance, you can simply say:

• You: what a lovely house! Or That’s a nice house you’ve got.
• Host: I’m glad you like it. Or Thank you very much it took us some time to do it up.

What to do when meeting other guests?

Note that after giving your coat to the host, you will probably be going to the sitting room, where all guests are there.

In case, this is your first-time meeting with most of them, you are not expected to shake hands with everybody. Just greet them nicely with a formal greeting.

Read more here: body-distance-how-to-avoid-embarrassing-yourself

Then the host will offer you a drink or snack, whichever you prefer. Bear in mind that this might not be the general case.

For example, if you know the host very well, they may simply ask you to serve yourself, showing you the corner of snacks and drinks.

Topics to discuss:

While sipping your drink, the best topics to talk about are: business, holiday plans, weather, etc. Make sure to avoid politics. Always pick light topics

Read more about small-talk-strategies-formal-vs-informal-small-talk

Dinner time:

It is preferable if the dinner is ready within 30 minutes to 45 minutes. More than that will be a bit annoying for guests.

So when the dinner is ready the hosts will politely invite the guests to go to the dinner table. They may use the following expressions:

Format expressions:

• Come through. Dinner is ready.
• Dinner is ready, would you like to come and sit down?

Informal expressions:

• Dinner is ready. Shall we eat?
• To the table everybody

Very important to know:

If the party is informal, you can sit anywhere you like. However, if the party is a bit formal, then your host will tell you where to sit.

If you are interested to know more about formal invitations read this article: formal-invitation-how-to-sustain-your-network

Useful tips and phrases when taking leave.

This article is going to talk about the problems that you might face during your meal, and also a share some useful tips and phrases to use during your meal, after your meal, and when taking leave.

This article will be talking about the following:

1. Phrases to use during your meal:
2. What to do After finishing your meal?
3. Taking leave sign and process:

Always bring your chocolate bar and let’s begin.

1. Phrases to use during your meal:

There might be certain problems, that you may face during your meal, in such cases you might need to use some of these expressions:

• Is there a serving spoon for this?
• I don’t seem to have a fork.
• Please, could you get me another fork because I think mine has been taken away?
• I got something stuck in my throat. Could you pat my back, please?
• Would you pass me the gravy, please?

2. What to do After finishing your meal?

The usual thing in invitations is that after finishing a meal, the host will ask the guests whether they prefer a coffee or tea.

Please note that this will be served in the living room, where you can continue talking about several topics.

However, be careful what topics to address. To know more about the topics to avoid read more here: 5-taboos-to-avoid-in-europe

While the host is serving this, they may ask you if you want to put some sugar and milk in your coffee or tea.

Read More: 5-good-gestures-to-apply-when-visiting-someone

3. Taking leave sign and process:

The tea or the coffee stage is considered the last part of the invitation. Therefore, after finishing, You should know that it is time to prepare for leaving.

So, to take your leave politely while you are still seated you might say:

• I really must go now. I should be home by now. The kids are alone.
• Gosh, look at the time. I must be going.
• It’s been a lovely evening, but I’m afraid we must go now.

Pay attention to this detail, once somebody leaves then that indicates that things are coming to a close and you should follow fairly soon.

Usually, the host will give you your coat and show you to the door. When you are at this point you can say:

• Thank you very much, it’s been a lovely evening. We really enjoyed ourselves.
• Or Thank you very much, it’s been a nice evening. We really enjoyed ourselves.

Your host may reply with:

• It was a pleasure to have you. Do come again, please.
• Don’t mention it. It was nice to have you.

That’s it for today thank you so much. You might be also interested in reading:

1. Best-practices-what-not-to-do-at-a-dinner-table
2. 5-good-gestures-to-apply-when-visiting-someone
3. Formal-invitation-how-to-sustain-your-network
4. What-not-to-say-at-the-dinner-table

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This article is going to share with you 8 questions about dinner invitation best practices. You will learn some dining etiquette and how to act correctly and how to be polite at the dinner table?.

So, as always bring your chocolate bar and let’s learn the best practices.

These are the questions we going to answer in this article:

1. When you’re invited to the dinner table where should you sit?
2. What is the difference between a cool drink and a soft drink?
3. Do you take your glass with you or leave it in the living room when you are asked to go to a dinner table?
4. Where do you put the serviette when you start eating?
5. What is the side knife used for and at what stage of the dinner?
6. When Europeans start eating, what they usually say?
7. What is the famous rule about the last piece of food on the serving dish?
8. What do you do with your knife and fork when you want to indicate that you have finished eating?

1. When you’re invited to the dinner table where should you sit?

In a formal event usually, the traditional seating plan is a man sitting next to a woman, the same thing for couples.

At a formal dinner table, you will find mine cart your name card on the table, this shows where you should seat. And the more important you are, the closer you are to the host.

2. What is the difference between a cool drink and a soft drink?

Usually, when you are invited to an event, the host will ask you whether you prefer a cool drink or a soft drink.

Here are the difference:

• Cool drink: is a drink with ice, it can also be alcoholic.
• Soft drink: can be a fruit juice or a fizzy drink like a Pepsi.

3. Do you take your glass with you or leave it in the living room when you are asked to go to a dinner table?

You should definitely leave your glass in the living room, even if it’s full. Unless the host request to bring it with you.

4. Where do you put the serviette when you start eating?

You should put it on your lap.

5. What is the side knife used for and at what stage of the dinner?

Usually, we use the side knife to butter the bread at the start of the meal.

6. When Europeans start eating, what they usually say?

French people usually say Bon appetite, however, English people usually just start eating or keep talking.

7. What is the famous rule about the last piece of food on the serving dish?

People are usually reluctant to take the last piece of food unless the host asked for that.

8. What do you do with your knife and fork when you want to indicate that you have finished eating?

The best sign is to place your knife and fork together with the handles facing you, whether on the table or inside the plate.

How to be polite at the dinner table?

When the guests sit down at the dinner table. It is polite to compliment the sitting on the table, The following words will show how you do appreciate the host’s efforts. For instance, you can say:

• What a nice table they’ve got,
• What a lovely table,
• Oh everything looks wonderful something smells delicious too

If the party is informal usually you will find all the food on the table and the guests help themselves. Read more: informal-invitation-what-not-to-do.

It’s a more formal dinner party the host will serve you the main dish and may ask you to help yourself with the second dish, usually the vegetables and the salad. Read more: best-practices-what-not-to-do-at-a-dinner-table.

A typical conversation between the host and the guest when serving the food:

The host may say:

• Let me serve everyone with this, could you ask me your plate, please?

Also, the host may say: “do say when” which means you should inform him or let him know when you have enough on your plate.

You might just reply with:

• That’s fine for me, thanks.

Bear in mind that it’s considered impolite to pile your plate with your first helping, as you will be automatically offered a second helping by the host. So don’t be dismayed if you are served a small portion at first.

When offering a second helping, the conversation might be:

• Host: Would you like some more?
• Guest: Oh, yes, please. It is delicious. Or No, thanks, I’ve got quite enough.

What to say during the eating?

While it is polite to compliment the host with some general polite phrases, here are some:

• This is an excellent source.
• This is really tasty.
• Mm, it is truly delicious.
• I did not know you are such a good cook.
• This is just like my mother used to make it.

That’s it for today, thank you so much for reading this article. You may also want to read: 5-good-gestures-to-apply-when-visiting-someone.

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More blogs on nappot.com

An informal invitation is a common dinner or party invitation among friends, schoolmates, and colleagues.

This article is going to share some tips to follow when you receive such an invitation or when you organize an informal event.

So as always bring your chocolate bar and let’s start.

This article will be talking about the following points:

• What is an informal invitation?
• When to organize my party dinner?
• What time I should go to the party?
• Should I bring something with me?

What is an informal invitation?

This type of invitation does not need a formal email or a letter, and you can normally make it through a phone call.

Usually, when you get an invitation for a dinner party, it will generally be by phone. However, with technology entering our daily communication, people may also use messaging apps to invite each other.

Yet, inviting friends by phone is always better, as this will allow you to check on them, and availability.  

When to organize your party dinner?

Having a dinner party at your place is usually on weekends, as it is considered the best period to organize such parties.

Bear in mind that organizing a party dinner during working days is weird for Europeans. And do not expect many people to show up at your door on Monday night.

The reason is pretty simple, Europeans believe that working days are purely for work and not for partying, so it is not appropriate to invite them during this period of the week.

People in Europe will assume that you are a careless person, while others will avoid you in the future, thinking that you are a loser.

So be careful when you organize your parties. However, if there was a holiday during working days, which are known from Monday to Friday, this rule may change.

Another thing to be careful with is if you received an invitation, the host may not expect a clear answer from you.

Still, if you are not sure, please try not to give a false promise. Remember that it is regarded as rude behavior if you first accept the invitation and then do not show up.

What time I should go to the party?

This question has different answers, however, when it is an informal invitation, it is not recommended to be on time sharply.

Europeans are usually punctual for formal occasions, though, when it’s not a formal invitation, European prefer to give themselves extra minutes.

For example, if the party starts at 6:00 PM, it is better if you arrive 10 to 15 minutes later. Note that arriving before 6:00 PM is considered impolite  

Should I bring something with me?

European mindset is a bit different comparing the rest of the world. When you are invited to a party, the host does not expect you to bring anything.

So you don’t need to exaggerate and bring gifts. Unless it is a birthday. Yet, a bottle of wine is always welcome.

Read more about formal-invitation-how-to-sustain-your-network

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To be able sustain your relationships and grow your network, you should know how to use the unwritten rules of a Formal Invitation?

These rules will help you sustain your relations. Therefore, you should first learn about these rules, and then learn how to apply them correctly.

So let’s try to understand what is a formal invitation? and When do we need it? To know more about this topic, bring your chocolate bar, and let’s start,

Definition:

Before we start bear in mind that there are two types of invitations:

1. Formal invitation.
2. Informal invitation.

And today we are going to talk only about the Formal Invitation. The definition of a formal invitation is very simple.

A formal invitation is an invitation that people will receive to attend a formal dinner. An example of these invitations may be:

• A wedding,
• A business dinner,
• A company dinner,
• A school dinner,
• Etc.

This type of invitation is always made in writing cards or formal emails and NEVER over a phone or an online message.

Read More about formal emails: how-to-write-a-formal-email-soon

Formal invitation unwritten rules:

The invitations usually contain some specific information like the purpose of the invitation, the address, the date, and some more information,

However, what we are going to talk about which somehow is considered important to be aware of are:

• The duration
• The ending note

The duration:

This information is really important to be aware of, as the formal invitation will indicate it clearly on the card or the email.

The duration of the reception is indicating the duration of the event. This is a polite way to specify when you should leave the event.

Bear in mind that staying longer than the indicated duration is considered impolite. Read more about good gestures 5-good-gestures-to-apply-when-visiting-someone

The ending note:

Another detail that might be very important to know is at the end of the invitation. There are usually two ending in a formal invitation

1. Regrets only,
2. R.S.V.P.

Regrets only:

These two endings are indicating different information, so if you receive a formal invitation that ends with “Regrets only”, this means that you don’t have to answer if you have accepted the invitation.

However, if by any chance you’re not attending or you’re not sure to attend the event. The host is expecting you to answer back.

Saying that you are delighted to receive the invitation. However, it is very difficult for you to attend.

R.S.V.P.:

the R.S.V.P. note stands for the French phrase Répondez s’il vous plait, equal to “Please reply”. When you receive an invitation with this note, it is saying that the host is expecting a confirmation from your side.

Therefore, you should indicate in your reply whether you accept the invitation or not. The expected answer is via phone call or a formal email.

Bear in mind that if you do not reply, you will be considered impolite. Not replying to a formal invitation is an impolite gesture. Unless you explain yourself later.

How to reply to a formal invitation:

Scenario 1. Accept the invitation:

Example Ⅰ: If you accept the invitation, you may write back:

• Thank you for your kind invitation. I shall be delighted to attend your event on 3 March, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

Example Ⅱ: If you get a wedding card from a friend of yours and you accept the invitation, you can confirm your coming with this possible answer :

• Thank you for your wedding invitation, I shall be delighted to attend

Scenario 2. Unable to accept the invitation:

Example Ⅲ: If you can not attend the event, you may possibly reply with:

• Thank you for your kind invitation to attend your event. Most unfortunately I am unable to attend.

Example Ⅳ: If you cannot attend your friend’s wedding, you may write something like this:

• Thank you for your wedding invitation. Most unfortunately I am unable to attend, but I wish you every happiness.

Conclusion:

This article has tried to share with you some unwritten rules that societies have implemented. However, following these rules will certainly strengthen your social relationships.

At the end of this article, I would like to share how delighted I am to know that a smart person like you is reading my blogs. So Thank you.

You may also like to read: small-talk-strategies-formal-vs-informal-small-talk

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There are certain unwritten rules you have to keep in mind when you visit people in their place. This article is going to speak about the good gestures that you should apply when you are invited to someone’s place. It will also share the bad gesture that you should definitely avoid.

So as always bring your chocolate bar and let’s start:

True versus Fake Eating Invitation:

Let’s imagine that your colleague who you are working with, has decided to invite you for a tea or a dinner.

It is normal to invite each other. Yet, you need to be sure of the invitation, whether it is a true or an open invitation, in other words, true vs fake invitation.

Do not be surprised, yes open or polite invitations do exist. And some countries in Europe do have this type of invitation,

English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese people consider this as a sort of politeness. So to avoid any misunderstanding.

You should always bear in mind that an open invitation is not a real invitation, and you should not take it seriously. Especially, if someone says something similar to this:

• Do come and see us sometimes.
• Do visit us any Sunday, we are always home during the afternoon.

Remember that these polite phrases, do not really reflect the true meaning.

True invitation:

A true invitation is usually fixed with a date and a specific meeting time. Therefore, it is recommended to follow some gestures that are unwritten rules. Yet everyone should follow them.

5 Good gestures when receiving a true invitation:

When you are invited to someone’s place, you should somehow follow some etiquettes that will show how polite and well-educated you are.

These good gestures are not written but applied by Europeans. Here are some of them:

1. Call To Confirm:

Telephone or message beforehand is really important to check whether it is a convenient time to visit them or not. Even though, you have received an invitation.

2. Bring Something With You:

It is always a good gesture to bring something with you that expresses how grateful you are. For example, flowers, drinks, gifts.  And this, of course, depends on the invitation.

3. Compliment The Food:

A very important gesture is to compliment the food and the one who prepared, who is usually a Woman. She will REALLY appreciate it, and you may get another invitation.

Read more about compliment: how-to-use-compliments-in-europe-correctly

4. Send A Thanking Message:

It is considered a very good gesture to write them a thanking message after leaving. This will show how polite and friendly person you are.

5. Do Not Rush Leaving And Do Not Stay Longer:

It is always polite to leave after your meal. however, you should not rush quickly from the table, this is considered impolite.

Staying longer is also impolite, So what you can do is to leave an hour or so after the meal, unless they genuinely ask you to stay more.

English people may use the expression “Must you go?” which is a polite phrase that does not necessarily mean they want you to stay longer.

Good gesture sums:

• Call to confirm.
• Bring Something With You.
• Send A Thanking Message.
• Compliment The One Who Cooked.
• Do Not Rush Leaving And Do Not Stay Longer.

Picnic invitation:

If the invitation is not at their place, let’s say for example a picnic, it is always a good gesture to ask them whether you can bring some food with you, like sandwiches, fruits or drinks.

Usually, a picnic is an informal event, which would be either a family occasion or among a group of friends. When it is over you just need to thank your host for the great time you have spent.

That’s it for today, Thank you so much for reading so far, you may also like to read: 5-taboos-to-avoid-in-europe.

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Closing a conversation can be very simple and easy, however in some situations, knowing how to end a conversation is considered a soft skill that everyone should learn.

Similar to greetings, closing a conversation has the same protocol, as there are two types of closing a conversation, “formal and informal closing”.

Note that formal phrases have their usage with specific people in specific situations. Read more about formal-greetings-vs-informal-greetings

This article is going to share some formal and informal phrases, also share useful tips that would help you with closing a conversation. Especially, in formal situations.

So, Bring your chocolate and let’s start.

1. Formal situations:

Formal expressions are generally used for instance, if you’re meeting someone for the first time, having an interview, or just finishing some administration papers.

In Europe, ending a conversation might be a bit different, from one country to another especially, if the comparison is between Western and Eastern countries.

As you may know, Eastern European countries are more likely to have a direct speech, with no small talk. and this is also applied with ending their conversations,

Short ending speech is the most common way to end a conversation in these countries. A common phrase would be :

• “Thank You, Goodbye”.

However, this is not the case in western countries. Citizen of this area are more likely to talk more. You will hear people sharing longer phrases when ending a conversation

For example:

• It’s been a pleasure meeting you, thank you so much for your time. Have a nice day, goodbye.
• It’s been nice talking to you, thank you so much for your time. Have a nice day, goodbye.
• Now, I will not hold you more, thank you so much for your time. Have a nice day, goodbye.
• Now, I must not keep you any longer, thank you so much for your time. Have a nice day, goodbye.

Read more about the differences between Eastern and Western European countries: how-to-use-compliments-in-europe-correctly.

2. Informal situations:

When you are in an informal situation, ending a conversation is not that big deal. You may just share some personal information before leaving.

You may say that you’re living because you need to do some work at home, or office or even to do some shopping. As you can see, there is no structure to follow.

Here are some informal phrases you might use when you wish to end an informal conversation:

• I have to go now, bye.
• I think I must be going now, I still have some stuff to do.
• Nice meeting you, it’s been a while.
• I’d better go and do some shopping now.
• Take Care now.

Conclusion:

Ending a conversation might not be that big deal. However, in a formal situation, you need to be very careful with closing the conversation, especially if it’s about your career.

Some nations might take it as an over-talking, others might consider it a disrespect if you close the conversation with a few words only.

Thank you for reading this article, you may also want to read: body-distance-how-to-avoid-embarrassing-yourself

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_{Disclaimer: This article is for study purposes only.}