Spectator on Biz Etiquette
A local Indianapolis e-newsletter provides insight on cultural events and unsung hotspots. Last month, however, The IndySpectator included a piece on the importance of manners at work.
If you are not currently a subscriber, the newsletter is archived online. Here is a passage from the article on the topic of instant messaging:
In most high-tech offices IMing is a highly effective internal communication tool. But just because the chat window pops up for the person on the other end doesn’t mean they are always available. Starting out with a simple “Hi Jon! Do you have a moment to chat” can go a long way. And just because they don’t respond, doesn’t mean they are ignoring you; they are probably busy.
There’s a key connection between good behavior and productive behavior. Etiquette is based on mutual respect. If we take time to be conscientious of others at work, we make it easier for them to be more efficient and more effective at their jobs. Likewise, that effort will reflect well on us. Colleagues will go out of their way to ensure that we can concentrate on our own tasks.
Good advice about workplace productivity can come from a variety of places. If you’re ready to learn more about what you can do to improve your workflow, Contact Slaughter Development today!
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September 24th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Scientists say that narcissism is our natural state, one we are born with. It is part of our instinctual and physical inheritance. It means we are immersed in ourselves, our pleasures and pains, and our point of view. In other words, we are the center of our world. Imagine that!
LEARNING LESSON #1
That’s why it is important to remember that what is most important to us may not always be top-of-mind and most important to the person with whom we are interacting.
When we encounter another human being, the way in which they behave impacts us either in a good or bad way. Human beings measure everything they encounter by its affect on them. Simply put, we…
- seek pleasure (experiences that make us feel good)
- avoid pain (experiences that make us feel bad)
As a result, we choose to be around those people who make us feel important, and stay away from those people who make us feel unimportant.
LEARNING LESSON #2
At the end of the day, to get what WE want we must be willing to care about what others want. The best communicators are the ones who know how to genuinely and sincerely appeal to someone’s inner sense of self-importance. They choose behaviors that make others feel important and comfortable around them.
One small part of this is paying close attention to the words we use when communicating with others.
For example, the instant message that says, “Call me in five minutes to discuss…” shows no respect for the recipient’s person’s time and priorities.
However, taking a few extra minutes to type, “ABC Company just called. They would like to move our presentation up one day from Friday to Thursday. Do you have 30 minutes today or tomorrow to finalize the details of this presentation with me?” will acknowledge the importance of Jon’s time and most likely receive a more positive response.
As always, fantastic post! Keep them coming!
Starla West, Corporate Image Coach