An Argument for Manners in the Work Place

In the last ‘Surviving Work’ I spoke about ‘Power Zones’ and how managing the times that you perform specific tasks in your daily life can significantly increase the efficiency of your work. What you’ll find, as I continue on with these ‘Surviving Work’ topics, is that while the means of each topic may differ, the ends will almost always promote working more efficiently, which I believe is one of the keys to increasing the quality of work life. In this case, manners in the work place can build a bridge between you and your client, or a bond between you and a co-worker, than can prove beneficial at times when quick responses, or inter-office favors, become necessary.

For a few years now, every time I’ve sent out an e-mail that’s work related, I’ve always concluded it, right before my contact information, with some derivation of the words ‘thank you’. Thanks for the hard work; Thanks for all of your help; or even simply Thanks. The idea of thanking someone every time you send them an e-mail is multi-faceted. First, in about 90% of the business related e-mails that I write, I’m asking for some sort of reciprocal action from the receiver, whether it’s a request for some sort of documentation, the completion of a process, or simply the answer to a question. So I’m thanking them in advance for the action that they’re about to take to help me fulfill the tasks of my job, and it’s usually an honest, sincere thank you in that regard. Usually. However, in my line of work, I’m forced to interact with employees for whom my job, and the requests that I make, aren’t a part of their job description. So I’m additionally thanking these people for going above and beyond the normal description of their job, to take time out to fulfill a request for someone who, for the most part, isn’t able to perform any beneficial tasks for them in return. I understand that my relationship with my client is, for the most part, a one-sided affair. They provide to me information that I need to fulfill my job tasks, and in return, I provide a service that they don’t really even want, so much as they’re required to let me perform it. Finally, I thank the recipients of my e-mails because the old adage really is true, you do catch more flies with honey than vinegar. To let people know that I’m appreciative of their time and knowledge, makes it easier for me down the road, when additional requests have to be made.

In the past year, in my current client engagement, I’ve pushed my manners farther than I ever have before, and the results have been outstanding. My requests are generally fulfilled quicker and with more enthusiasm than in years past. That isn’t due solely to adding the words ‘thank you’ to my e-mails, but doing such a thing helps to keep me in a kinder frame of mind when performing other client interactions, like office observations or personnel interviews. Good manners in the office can’t help but foster a better relationship with client and co-worker alike, and those good relationships promote a more efficient working environment. This year alone, mine and my staff’s positive relationship with our client has been one of the driving factors in helping us to complete our work on budget, and ahead of schedule.

Things like adding a ‘thank you’ to each e-mail promote good manners, and foster better relationships, but just as important are those things we do to minimize negative impacts on relationships. Don’t be curt with people, whether it be on the phone, or in person. Don’t be late for scheduled appointments, and never, ever miss them or put them off altogether. Take a cautious approach, and don’t using an accusatory tone, when delivering potentially bad news. Be humble. Because, at the heart of things, using good manners is simply a show of respect for another individual. And, anyone who would be willing to do their jobs without some modicum of respect for those they work for, or with, isn’t worth the paper that their pay stub is printed on.