Being Polite

Show Notes: Consider two axes, one or importance (of a job, career, project, relationship) and the other of courtesy. Thus, we run from unimportant to important, and rude to polite on the two continua. If something is important and it is performed with courtesy and consideration, it is effectively done. Consider the flight attendant ensuring that seat belts are fastened or the server apologizing for a poorly prepared meal and quicky replacing it. If something is relatively unimportant but politely done, it’s a gracious encounter. This might be the coffee shop worker delivering your order and thanking you for your business, or someone ahead of you holding a door and smiling. When something is important but people are impolite you have a nasty individual. I’ve met immigration officers who are simply surly and disrespectful, and bank tellers who ask for identification from people they already know quite well. And when something is unimportant and people are rude, you have malice—someone looking for trouble. These are people who shove you aside on the sidewalk or who are passive aggressive and try to undermine you in a chat with others. It costs nothing to be polite, but it seem that a lot of people see it as too big of an investment.