Today’s business world is spending millions of dollars on training employees on customer service. From how to greet a customer to how to say goodbye, it’s all there in print, blogs, e-training modules, etc. You name it and it is there.
But here’s a revolutionary idea: Why not teach people how to be polite? I mean from the time they are born to the graduation day from a post-secondary institution? That way we’re almost (and it’s a big almost) guaranteed to have a polite and people-oriented workforce.
I remember my grandmother used to say: Armin, there’re numerous ways to ask someone to do something; for example, you can ask someone to please have a seat, or you can ask them to sit down, or you can ask them to sit the @#&* down. Ultimately, they all mean the same thing; however, you’re sure to get a better response from the former than the latter. Gosh, was she ever right!
I’ve noticed that more and more people are beginning to confuse impoliteness with assertiveness, insincerity with charisma, lying with exaggerating the truth, and rudeness with being direct. Where did we go wrong? Did our attempts to raise children that are competitive, strong-minded, well spoken, highly educated, fearless, and charismatic fail? Did we instead produce children that are willing to disregard others at all costs, shallow, addicted to technology, and turned off by school, judgemental and outright arrogant? I’d like to think not.
So why not begin with teaching manners instead of customer service. I would argue that the former will most definitely lead and encourage the latter. Here’s why: It is through manners that one begins to learn to greet, listen, share, respect others, and be aware of others’ feelings, offer assistance, volunteer, and wait for one’s turn. Aren’t these the type of characteristics that we look for in leaders?
Thank you for reading,
Armin
PS. My grandmother also said that one can get away with murder if he’s got a smile on his face. Never wanted to try that theory but it sure sounds right! Miss you grandma.
Armin - I could not agree with you more!! I keep saying that as a teacher two of the things that I want to instill in my students is manners and how to take photos. I think too many people these days do not have the basic manners or even care to use them. I was just saying at work today how I HATE it when a customer doesn't take that extra half a second to say thank you or hello. It's SO rude! The photo taking is a pet peeve of mine and not as important but I think it's horrible that so many people these days have no clue how to take a good photo.
ReplyDeleteArmin...
ReplyDeleteWhen did polietness go the way of the walkman and Windows 95?
Yes, the lack of politeness does seem to be more and more rampant. The words "Please" and "Thank you" are so simple yet go a long way in conversations with colleagues, clients, friends and family.
Being polite means more than providing good customer service -- it's being respectful of others.
- Wendy