The Courtesy Asset

Although nasty managers are fun in the movies, in the real world, courtesy is a long-lived asset.

Stress and competition can erode our natural tendency towards politeness.  (Not just Canadians are polite.  When I travel the world, I meet lots of polite people.)  Pressured by deadlines, we might give short, abrupt commands.  We can forget to thank others.  Quick decisions may seems more desirable than consultations.  Our minds could be so caught up in solving a problem that we are not paying attention to anyone else.  While we can all be forgiven for momentary lapses, take care not to develop a curt management style.  The least expensive asset you can acquire is a thoughtfully courteous manner.

1. Listen to yourself occasionally.  Do you sound as you want to be heard?  Would you want to be addressed in such a tone?  If not, take a deep breath and add genuine warmth to how you are communicating.
2. Remember to say thank-you.  Have you thanked a colleague lately?  Many managers thank subordinates for routine services and special efforts.  Thanking superiors for their time or advice is common.  However, sliding away from being courteous towards our peers is easy, because we have the same expectations of them as we do of ourselves.  Their very equality allows us to fling off a quick "thanks", rather than adding a few extra words to express genuine appreciation.
3. When your face is at rest, smile.  This may seem to be an odd sort of courtesy, but imagine being interrupted and looking up from your desk.  Do your wrinkled brow, clenched lips and squinting eyes say, "Stay out!"  While managers are entitled to shut their office doors sometimes to get work done, if your door is open or if you are walking down the hall, your face and body convey strong messages.  Sit or walk with some ease, demonstrating that you welcome chat and good ideas.