Free Savvy Girl, A Guide to Etiquette by Brittany Deal, Bren Underwood Page A

etiquette” skills by being respectful and kind. These actions open the door to liking and trusting someone new, and they continue to be the things that nurture a friendship and help it grow throughout the years. Being savvy about social etiquette helps us make and keep friends. And friendship not only helps us get more enjoyment out of life, it also helps us get through our most difficult times. ]

GREETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS
    Greetings and introductions are the bread and butter of social etiquette. We experience this form of socializing every day, whether it’s greeting your best friend when meeting her for drinks or connecting two of your former colleagues for a potential new job opportunity.
    Taking it a step further, proper greetings and introductions have the power to not only make people feel comfortable but also to cultivate new and lasting relationships. So, what is the key to a warm greeting or to a flawless introduction of two people? It’s a mix of following protocol and reading subtle social cues.
    In this section, we’ll cover everything from when to “go in” for a hug versus a handshake, and how to flex your social matchmaking skills in order to seamlessly connect people.

GREETINGS
    While I’m a self-proclaimed hugger, I’m also aware that not everyone embraces the embrace. For instance, I have a friend who doesn’t care for hugs, so I always greet her with a warm smile and cheerful “Hi!” instead of a squeeze. Observe people’s social cues and maintain a sense of formality for certain greetings.

    When in doubt, go for a handshake. Reserve hugs and air kisses for family, friends, and those who you have a close relationship with.
    If you’re greeting someone in a professional setting—we’re talking colleagues, clients, business associates, and so on—a solid handshake, eye contact, and genuine smile is always an appropriate go-to greeting. Of course, colleagues and clients can become fast friends, and a more personal greeting can certainly happen with time. So, if you see your cube mate coming in for a squeeze at the summer picnic, feel free to reciprocate.

GREETING ETIQUETTE DOS:
    DO stand to greet someone. Get off your bum and stand when greeting those who are arriving or leaving. Standing shows you are a classy lady and that you have respect for the person who has arrived. If you’re seated in a tight booth at a restaurant or in a position that prevents you from getting up, a half-stand is better than no stand.
    DO make eye contact. Look the person in the eye when greeting them and don’t forget to flash your pearly whites. Smiles are contagious and put people at ease. Aren’t you glad you suffered through all those years of braces as a teenager? Also, try to avoid looking someone up and down, or scanning the room—it translates as a lack of interest in (and lack of respect for) the person you’re greeting.
    [ BRITT: Ladies, I want to reiterate what Bren is saying here. Avoid sizing girls up—even if it’s completely innocent. I know her outfit is probably super-cute, but the up-and-down glance is never as discreet as it may feel. After all, she can’t read your mind (which would be screaming, “I’m so jealous of your cute clothes!). Instead, she’s probably wondering if you think her jumpsuit is too retro. So, save the outfit ogling for US Weekly . And don’t look around the room, either. Nothing makes someone feel smaller than being introduced to someone whose eyes are darting around the room. ]
    DO keep your right hand free. Have you ever experienced one of those cold, slippery handshakes because someone had to transfer their cocktail to their other hand to greet you? Or how about the weak left-handed shake because that person’s right hand was occupied? To avoid this uncomfortable greeting, keep your right hand free by holding your drink, clutch, or other personal items in your left hand.

INTRODUCTIONS
    From matchmaking to networking, connecting with new people is