Etiquette, a quirky word where the phonetics doesn’t match
the spelling, but the intent is very simple- make others feel comfortable. However,
we are we increasingly feeling that people are rude or just plain oblivious of
what good manners are.
I rarely feel somebody was rude if they don’t join their
fork and knife at the end of the meal, however I feel perturbed when the person
ahead of me throws the door in my face. I am going to assume positive intent and think
people are unaware of what good manners are, rather than thinking that parents
just forgot to teach some manners.
Given we spend fair bit of time at work, I have complied a
list of some very basic Do’s for the workplace and hence it would be a good
place to start polishing are ways around others.
1. Always say hello if you run into
someone who works on your floor, even if you don’t know their name. Don’t
pretend that you didn’t see them. That strategy just makes you look like you had too
much of something before you got into work.
2. Smile when you cross an
acquaintance in the hall way.
3. When someone says “thank you”,
respond with “you are welcome” instead of “no problem” or “sure”.
4. Always hold the door for the
person behind you. Yes, you are busy, but an extra 5 seconds will not take too
much away from your work.
5. Whoever gets to the door first holds
the door for the other person. This is a gender neutral rule.
6. Always hold the elevator to
ensure everyone can get in (nobody loses a limb by getting stuck in the
elevator door).
7. Don’t greet people by saying “Morning”.
Yes, I know it is morning time, don’t tell me something I already know… Is it
really that difficult to say “Good Morning”, that we are so lazy that we just
skip the good all together?
8. When you run into someone in the communal
area that you don’t know, take the opportunity to introduce yourself.
9. Last, don’t pick your nose!
These are just some of the many ways we can make the workplace warm, friendly and welcoming for everyone!
