What is the correct way to open a door that opens outward?
The best way to handle this is to say “Please, let me get the door for you.” Then go through the door first, and hold it open while the other person exits. By speaking first, the other party knows that you’re being courteous instead of being pushy. I will also add that whenever someone is exiting a building or room through a door at the same time that someone is entering a building or room through a door, the person exiting should always yield to the person entering. This is because doors usually open outward (the exiting person could strike the entering person with the door); because the interior person is at an advantage (not in a hallway or not outside in the sun or rain); and because usually the entering person cannot see the exiting person (this is a problem even with glass doors, since the entering person usually sees a reflection while the exiting person can see through). In the rare case that a door opens inward, the exiting person should open the door for the entering person.
