Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Professional courtesy


Of the six organisations I worked for, three came to me because a person who had worked with me recommended me to the person who was hiring. Not all of them were people with whom I got along with from the start- I even had major professional differences with one, which we managed in a mature manner, without having to resort to name-calling.

Even if you don't think being nice is the right thing to do, extending basic professional courtesy to the people you work with is a sensible thing to do.

Why do so many people not get it?

_____
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.

17 comments:

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Most people don't get it! And so many of my speaking gigs and appearances have come from referrals because I was of quality AND a nice person.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I've wondered this very thing so many times. How hard is it just to be nice?

Jules said...

And then there are those whom do not care about nice, nor the fact you are. These are sad people.
Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Talli Roland said...

I wish I knew! Why can't people be nice? Who know - a good question!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Some people go out of their way not to be nice, but think of what they're missing, friends, love, laughter and so many more things.

Loved the drabble Rayna.

Yvonne.

Laura Eno said...

I think the people that don't get it are unhappy with themselves to start with.

Great drabble!

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Being nice to others is more for me than them. I like me more when I'm nice.

Mary

Hart Johnson said...

Man, NO KIDDING! It is baffling, really. I have had coworkers who NEEDED MY REFERENCE basically burn those bridges. Maybe someday.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

How hard is it to be nice?

Al said...

behaving professionally is something many people find hard to do.

Unknown said...

I try to be nice with everyone, however, my husband has a really hard time with it. He'd be one of the people who'd yell.

CD

Anonymous said...

Some people are generally unhappy and bitter, or they easily become jealous of others. They might be doing well based on outer appearances, but I find the unprofessionalism catches up with them and hurts their careers.

Sueann said...

An excellent point!! Why indeed??!!
Too much ego and the need to be right and in charge could be some of the problem.
Hugs
SueAnn

Theres just life said...

Like the old saying says... If you can't say something nice, don't say anything.
Now I must admit, I have been extremely quite around a few people in my lifetime.

I just sat there and smiled. They thought I was shy...

Patricia Stoltey said...

One of the mysteries of human nature, I guess. Difficult and discourteous people are a challenge. I always wonder what inner trauma makes them that way, but I don't hang around to find out.

Patricia

Anonymous said...

Excellent post! People seem to think that business is personal when it's not.

Natasha said...

@ Diane- naturally. A little niceness does go a long way. In fact, given a choice, I would rather have a nice person who is competent than one who is professionally better, but nasty.

@ KarenG- if you tell yourself you are going to be nice rather than nasty, it is not hard at all.

@ Jules- those are the people I feel really sad for- they don't know what they are missing out on in life.

@ Talli - specially when it doesn't cost anything to be nice.

@ Yvonne - you are right. A little bit of niceness actually gives you back so much more than you give.

@ Laura - that they are. And I have to feel sorry for them for all they are missing out on.

@ Mary- and I love you because you are so nice!

@ Hart- You must be kidding!!! You have to be. How can anyone be so short-sighted?

@ Alex- not hard at all. At least, not hard most of the time.

@ Al- such a pity, isn't it?

@ Clarissa- I yell too, but only when I am pushed. And even if I am justified in the yelling, I always apologise after I have cooled down.

@ Medeia- precisely. This particular person was riding high and made a practice of being nasty. Today,he is in trouble, and everyone is jumping to pull him down.

@ SueAnn - I can only feel sad for such a person.

@ Theres just life- love how you put it "I must admit, I have been extremely quite around a few people in my lifetime." 'nuff said.

@ Patricia- me neither. I normally scram as soon as I can. Though a few times I have lingered, and tried to dig deeper, and come away richer.

@ Fiona- business is business, but being courteous is business. It is not professional. Why can't people get it?

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails