Good etiquette is more than just choosing the right fork.
Nuwan Sirimanna, founder of Etiquette Matters Institute of Etiquette, believes kindness, consideration and respect are the pillars of etiquette.
Further, he says good etiquette is in his DNA; “It’s my oxygen that’s what I feel I’ve been put here to do.”
He’s inspired by his grandmother, who “is all about doing things right.” She gave him some etiquette books in his younger days, and he practised with his younger siblings.
“That’s how my passion for this was created, long before I started in the industry,” said the married father of a son, nine, and a daughter, seven. Needless to say, his children get one-on-one etiquette coaching.
Sirimanna believes etiquette is about the way you live. It becomes part of a lifestyle.
“We need to get the word out. It’s needed in society right now,” he said. “Etiquette is a set of unwritten social rules. Good etiquette gives you confidence. It affects how you carry yourself, conduct yourself, how you walk and how you present yourself.”
The journey to become an etiquette coach has spanned 15 years. During that time, he says he worked in food and beverage operations, hotel management, at luxury hotels such as Palm Atlantis in Dubai.
He came to Canada six years ago, and says most of the one-on-one coaching he's done in Burlington and Oakville has been with children and individuals from all walks of life, who want to polish their professional etiquette.
Sirimanna, 42, has a commitment to empowering people and says etiquette can have a positive impact. “Confident individuals who can navigate social situations with ease, leave a positive and lasting impression,” he said. “Having good etiquette empowers individuals to communicate effectively, build meaningful relationships, and contribute to a more harmonious community.”
Further, he says it’s especially important to teach etiquette skills to children and youth to set a foundation for their future success.
And yes, dining etiquette is another of the coaching programs Sirimanna has developed.
“Dining etiquette helps to create a positive and respectful atmosphere during formal occasions and social gatherings.”
Learn more about his programs here: etiquettematters.ca.
