Hat tip to Bob for sending me this great article on how Manners Speak Loudly in Business.
Ronald Bosrock writes that respect for others (be they employees or customers) often seems like a lost commodity in the business world today. He gives several salient examples and states:
"Communication etiquette, both internal and external, reflects the organization's core values and also is a reflection of the leadership. That starts at the top and is projected to the rest of the organization and the marketplace by example. Whether the encounters involve clients, customers, job candidates, vendors or employees, people will long remember how they were treated by an organization...
...While there are good and sufficient business reasons for treating people with respect -- namely, because it's good business -- the fundamental reason for doing so should be because it's the right thing to do. Many organizations say their customers and employees are their most important assets. While that may be true in theory, oftentimes it is not backed up by example.
At a time when the world seems bent on destroying any semblance of civility, it seems worth the effort to create an atmosphere in the workplace that shows respect and appreciation for all employees, customers and outside business associates."
Bob is someone who uses terrific people skills with everyone he encounters - it makes him effective in both his business and his personal life. Interestingly enough, he told me that he liked this article so much that he forwarded it to several others. He noted wryly that "The folks who responded that the article really spoke to them were the ones who really didn't even need to see it - they are already doing what it says." So this leads me to the question: what was your reaction to the article?
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