From being excited to come across one as a child, to using a lift at work being a commonplace occurrence as an adult – lift usage is frequent. However, the etiquette one must follow when using a lift, sadly, has not caught on.
I have found many people from all walks of life who manage to evoke my wrath by being completely socially tone-deaf when it comes to using lifts.
Fear not, we can all improve to be more socially-aware individuals and better lift users.
Know the Difference Between ‘Up’ and ‘Down’
Children are generally very fascinated by buttons in a lift as they light up. They tend to love pressing all these buttons, despite only having to go to one floor. If there is an eager child in a lift you step in to, by all means let them know which floor you’re going to, so that you can contribute to their excitement. Parents, however must take care to teach their children only to press the button they require. Needless to say one can excuse a child for their excitements and unknowing misdeeds, but the story changes for adults.
Sure, adults generally know to press only the floor they require, but what about before stepping into the lift? There have been dozens of times where I have been waiting for a lift after pressing the “Up” button, since I would be going up, and along comes a fully-fledged adult presses the button to go down even though they are going up, just because they think that the lift will get there faster. I’m afraid to inform you that this is not the case. The lift will get to your floor eventually. You don’t need to press an unnecessary button, causing the lift to make an unnecessary stop and wasting the time of everyone in the lift.
If you are going up, press the button with the arrow pointing up. If it is already pressed, which you will know since the button lights up when it is pressed, then please, for the love of humanity, keep your hands to yourself.
If you are going up, press the button with the arrow pointing up. If it is already pressed, which you will know since the button lights up when it is pressed, then please, for the love of humanity, keep your hands to yourself.
Don’t Block the Lift Door
Lifts can be infamous for being slow, especially when you’re in a hurry, but this does not give you any right to block the lift door. Sri Lankans are terrible offenders of this rule of etiquette. When you are waiting for a lift, please keep in mind to stand away from the door so that anyone who may be stepping off the lift has ample room to do so. If you are blocking the lift door, anyone who may be getting off the lift will have to elbow their way through to get off. Step to the side of the lift doors, let anyone stepping off get off the lift first, and then you may step on to the lift. It’s quite simple.
The people stepping off have priority over the people stepping on.
Many a time I have travelled to the ground floor of a building in a lift and been trapped inside because Sri Lankans have absolutely no idea how rude they are being by barreling into the lift before people have got off. Please remember your manners and be patient until people step off the lift. Don’t worry, you won’t miss the lift just because you were polite.
Make Way for Those Exiting the Lift
Though the maximum number that can travel in a lift at a time has been curtailed by the authorities due to the pandemic, there can still be times that you need to step aside to let the people behind you pass. If you are in a crowded lift, where the exit path of some could be blocked, please step aside or step off the lift for a moment and allow them to exit before getting back in. You are not a ghost, people can’t pass through you, so be mindful and give them some room.
Stand in Your Space
This seems too simple to warrant a separate section for it, but I have no alternative, given some of my personal experiences. When you are travelling in a lift, don’t make it awkward for yourself or others by staring at people or breathing down their necks. Turn so that eye contact is avoided. In this day and age, where the whole world is trying to maintain distance, please turn your back to the inside of the lift and face the walls of the lift to minimize contact.
Also, keep your belongings to your person; there is limited space in a lift – share it considerately.
If you have any more questions about travelling gracefully in an elevator/ lift. Please write to us at fullofetiquette@gmail.com and we will be happy to unravel the mysteries for you.
Submitted by Pradeepani Jayasekera
Full of Etiquette 
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