Inevitably, as you become more established in your career, you will find yourself working with more affluent individuals. There are several different titles you can use to address affluent people, from ‘Mr’ to ‘Dr’ to ‘Ex’ and everything in between. Which one you use will depend on the context. Your audience will appreciate it if you can tailor your language to suit your audience’s social status. In this article, we’ll discuss how to properly address affluent people depending on your relationship with them.
At Work
When you’re at work, there are two very important things you need to avoid: bad manners and poor conversation. If you want to maintain a good relation with your colleagues, you need to conduct yourself in a professional manner; otherwise, you may find yourself at odds with your employer. You should never, ever use language that is considered vulgar or offensive; it will certainly not endear you to your colleagues. Avoid gossip, slander, and backstabbing, and speak with integrity. In the same vein, at work you must focus on being proficient in your field while also demonstrating courtesy and respect for your colleagues. When you have a disagreement with a colleague, you must express your views in a respectful manner. You should never badmouth others or talk behind their back. These are all very basic rules of good conduct that you must follow regardless of your social status at work.
In Personal Matters
When you’re in your personal life, it is imperative you act in a manner befitting of your social status. You must always refer to people with titles such as ‘Mr’, ‘Ms’, or ‘Mrs’ even if they are not married. Married women are usually addressed as ‘Mrs’ regardless of their husband’s name. When someone is older than you, you should address them with respect and deference; otherwise, you may find yourself in a conflict. For example, if you’re talking to someone who is your senior in age, you would say ‘Sir’ or ‘Madame’ or ‘Ms’ even if they are a woman. If you want to refer to someone as ‘Dad’, then you must use ‘Dad’ even if they are a grandfather or father-in-law. You should always use the family name first when referring to someone’s parents, siblings, and extended family.
When Meeting New People
When you’re meeting a new person, you must first and foremost determine their social status. This can be a challenging task, especially if you don’t know them well. When you meet someone at a bar or in a social setting and you want to address them formally, you must first consider whether they are an ‘insider’ or an ‘outsider’. If you want to address an ‘outsider’ with respect, you should use their full name and a title such as ‘Sir’ or ‘Madame’ even if they are a woman. If you address an ‘insider’ with respect, you should use their first name and last name or their title. For example, if you’re meeting a potential employer or someone you’ve just met and you want to address them formally, you would say ‘Mr Jenkins’, ‘Dr Price’, ‘Mrs Robinson’, or ‘Ms Jones’. You should only address someone with a title if you are certain that they have a rank or position; otherwise, you would just use their first name. When someone gives you their business card, you may address them as ‘Mr’ or ‘Ms’ even if they are not a doctor or lawyer. However, if they are a professor at your undergraduate alma mater, then you should use their full name and title when addressing them.
The key takeaway from this is to always be sure about your social status before you decide to use a certain title. If you’re not sure whether or not you should use a title, then you probably shouldn’t. When in doubt, always opt for the default ‘Mister’ or ‘Miss’ unless you have a good reason not to. This way, you’ll be sure to address people appropriately and won’t end up hurting your cause by using the wrong title. In the same vein, if you are unsure whether or not you should address someone with your last name, then you should probably refrain from doing so regardless of your social status. This will help you avoid any awkward moments down the road. Being overly familiar can come off as insulting, especially if the person you’re addressing is your superior in some way. The last thing you want to do is upset your boss because you didn’t know how to address them appropriately. Being familiar with, and mindful of, social norms is important in any setting, but especially in the workplace where impropriety can quickly spiral out of control.
As you can see, there are several ways you can address affluent people depending on your relationship with them. Always be sure to use the appropriate title and refrain from falling into the trap of overusing Mr, Ms, or Mrs unless you’re certain of their status. In the same vein, when meeting new people, take the time to find out who they are and how you should address them. If you make a mistake, it can quickly spiral out of control. This may end up being a problem for you later on when you need to address them. What’s more, it can hurt your cause. Never address someone with your last name unless you’re certain they’re your subordinate in some way. This will certainly not endear you to your superior.