Tactfulness (tact, sense of tact, sense of proportion; Lat. tactus — touch, sense of touch, feeling) — the ability to behave in accordance with adopted etiquette and ethical norms. People with a sense of tact are called tactful. Tactfulness implies not merely following the rules of behaviour, but also the ability to understand one's interlocutor and to avoid situations unpleasant to other people.
Tact – from the Latin tactus - touch, feeling, sense of touch. A sense of proportion suggesting the correct attitude, approach to someone or something; the ability to conduct oneself appropriately.
Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Tactfulness – is a sense of proportion that must be observed in conversation, in personal and official relations; the ability to feel the boundary beyond which, as a result of our words or actions, offence begins in the person with whom we are communicating.
- Tactfulness is the ability to point out others' mistakes in such a way as not to hurt or offend them; or not to point them out at all.
- Tactfulness is a person's natural intuition combined with good upbringing, a broad range of knowledge, and respect for people.
- Tactfulness is a structure of a person's spiritual make-up that does not involve belittling others or flaunting one's own merits.
- Tactfulness is sensitive and careful attention to the emotional state of the people around one.
Tactfulness in Ancient Greek Philosophy
A characterisation of tactlessness through concrete examples was given by the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus in his work «Characters». According to Theophrastus, tactlessness is the inability to choose a suitable moment for communication, which causes unpleasantness to one's interlocutor. A tactless person harbours no ill intent, but acts inappropriately and at the wrong time.
Theophrastus gives the following examples of tactless acts
- coming for advice to a busy man;
- bursting in with a drunken crowd upon one's ailing beloved;
- asking for a guarantee from someone who has already suffered on account of standing surety;
- appearing in court as a witness when the case has already been concluded;
- reviling women at a wedding;
- inviting a tired man who has just come home to go for a walk;
- bringing a buyer offering a higher price to the seller after the sale has already taken place;
- starting to tell the whole story from the beginning when those present have already grasped the point;
- coming for the repayment of interest to a debtor who has just spent money on a sacrifice;
- telling, in the presence of a slave being punished, how another slave hanged himself after a flogging;
- trying, in arbitration, to set at odds parties who wish to be reconciled;
- while launching into a dance, dragging along a neighbour who is not yet drunk.
The Modern Conception of Tact
Tact — is the proportionality of a person's conduct with the feelings and actions of other people. Tactfulness — is the ability to measure one's own actions, feelings, words and intonations against the actions, feelings and intonations of others; the skill of performing acts and uttering words harmonised with the acts or words of one's communication partner.
H.-G. Gadamer writes:
By tact we understand a certain receptivity and capacity for perceiving a situation and the behaviour within it, for which we have no knowledge derived from general principles. Because of this, the concept of tact is inexpressive and inexpressible. One can say something tactfully. But this will always mean that in doing so something is tactfully passed over and left unsaid, and that it is tactless to speak of what can be passed over. But to «pass over» does not mean to turn away from something; on the contrary, this something must be kept before one's eyes, so as not to stumble over it but to pass it by. Tact thus helps to maintain distance, to avoid injuries and collisions, excessive closeness of contact, and the wounding of the intimate sphere of the personality.
— Gadamer H.-G. Truth and Method
Advantages of Tactfulness
- Tactfulness gives opportunities – to overlook mistakes and to cultivate people's merits.
- Tactfulness gives liberation – from rudeness and bluntness.
- Tactfulness gives a platform – for working on oneself with the aim of changing the whole surrounding world for the better.
- Tactfulness develops attentiveness – towards the world and towards people.
- Tactfulness gives strength – for worthy conduct in any environment and in any situation.
Manifestations of Tactfulness in Everyday Life
- Communication. A respectful attitude towards one's interlocutor, an absence of any desire to rise above others, cultured speech and impeccable politeness – reveal a tactful person.
- Teaching. A teacher who treats students attentively and with respect – displays tactfulness.
- Family relations. Parents who never «sort things out» and who do not allow disrespectful remarks about people in the presence of children – display tactfulness.
- Professional team. A person who is not in a hurry to point out a colleague's mistake in public, but does so privately and in a friendly manner – demonstrates tactfulness.
How to Achieve Tactfulness
- Family upbringing. Tactful parents, by their own example, instil in their children politeness, sensitivity and a sense of tact.
- Reading. The broader a person's outlook, the better acquainted they are with classical literature – the simpler and more natural the display of tactfulness becomes for them.
- Interest in culture. People of art are often distinguished by spiritual refinement; by becoming involved with culture, a person cultivates in themselves, among other things, tactfulness as well.
- Religion. Religion, by its very essence, is imbued with benevolence and tactfulness; truly religious people - invariably possess tactfulness.
- An attentive attitude towards others. A person who sincerely tries to sense the mood of their interlocutor, their emotional state – cultivates tactfulness in themselves.
See Also
- Mauvais ton (bad form)
- Sensitivity (human)
- Politeness
- Etiquette
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