It’s the right thing to do and if you need an incentive, it will pay dividends in the way people treat you in return.

People want to be respected.  Therefore if you treat people with respect, they will treat you with respect in appreciation.

Manners create a mutually beneficial cycle of goodwill.  You should be constantly uttering the following and similar:

-Please

-Thank you

-Sir/Ms/Ma’am

-May I

-Throw in a smile and express your appreciation

This extremely basic measure towards cultivating positive interactions has fallen by the wayside and cannot really be called common sense anymore.

When visiting my local burrito establishment, I’ve observed time and again people mumbling and grunting their orders.  Lo and behold, the wait staff proceed to fulfill their orders with minimal interest and perhaps even some disdain.  This is then detected by the rude pigs with no manners who then take a hostile tone and the cycle of a poor interaction is further amplified.  This can cause delays in the line that then affect those waiting patiently to eat.  Classic vicious cycle.

I place my order using completely basic manners and am regularly rewarded with friendly service and free meals.

If you’ve fallen out of practice with your manners, get back on the horse and in no time it will become second nature.

Even when good manners are not reciprocated, we win by conducting ourselves with class.