How to Beat Your Competition with Courtesy

COURTESY: THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO RAPIDLY WIDEN THE GAP BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR COMPETITION

Even if you are disgusted with humankind from time to time, give the benefit of the doubt to the individual. Give the person before you the courtesy and respect you would give someone to whom, in your opinion, it would be appropriate for the finest of all of us.

We have all heard that we should treat others like we would expect to be treated ourselves. Do better than that. Treat others far better than we would expect others to treat us. In truth, with the epic disintegration of good behavior in our current society, our expectations really shouldn’t be all that lofty (we’ll speak to this more a little later). Develop a habit. Look for opportunities to show just how courteous you can be, and then do it consistently. And if, and when, you are completely convinced that this person has irrevocably dashed your hopes for the salvation of man, you then summon greater strength and continue to provide courtesy and respect. Then, if possible, muster even more.

Becoming a thing of the past in society, courtesy is a must in our facilities.

The next time you pull into a drive-thru or walk into a convenience store, listen to the person in front of you order. Chances are good that you’ll hear something like this: “Yeah, gimme a…” or “I wanna…” or “I’ll take a…” or “Lemme have a…” The truly fascinating thing is that you’ll hear these things from a wide variety of age groups, though mostly the fifty and under crowd. Where in the heck did these people learn manners? I know, nowhere of course. It’s as if these people believe those serving them are inferior beings. Truth be told, even if it could somehow be proven as fact, what possible good could come of the disrespect? If you are one of those who cannot find it within yourself to say “please” or “thank you” or “you’re welcome”, learn how or get out of retail. It is true that, at times, we find ourselves extremely deep in thought, so much so that we can appear to be aloof or selfish even if such is not the case. We must take care when we are around other people. Mistakes outside of your place of business can likely enter your workplace if the habit is not curtailed.

Jean de la Bruyere, French essayist and moralist (1645-1696), said this:

“Discourtesy does not spring merely from one bad quality, but from several – from foolish vanity, from ignorance of what is due others, from indolence, from stupidity, from distraction of thought, from contempt of others, from jealousy.”

Whether or not you are familiar with or a fan of de la Bruyere (look him up on Wikipedia), this statement pretty much encompasses all sources of this trait, or lack thereof…