Trying times often ferret out who’s got their manners screwed to them tightly, and who is just being buffeted by the winds of chance.
Don’t let the recession sour your outlook so much so that your good manners slip. On the contrary, with some of your newly-found extra time, how about improving your manners…
WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE!
That’s right…a good, old-fashioned, hand-written thank you note. TO WHOM DO YOU WRITE IT? How about ANYONE!
A new client, an old client, a special vendor, a prospect, a business associate, a boss, an employee, your mailman, your great aunt, whomever! I’m not talking an encyclopedia here, just a few short lines letting someone know you appreciate something they did, some quality they have, or simply just for being them!
And they will appreciate getting a hand-written note…
because NO ONE DOES IT ANYMORE!
Don’t have any stationery? That’s easy, I can recommend an excellent place to order some nice, reasonably priced and personalized note cards and envelopes.
Don’t overwhelm yourself, though, just try to write one a day, or even one a week. Just your heightened sense of gratitude may improve your attitude and disposition.
And, how about saying YOU’RE WELCOME when you should? When someone says THANK YOU, the proper reply is YOU’RE WELCOME.
Often, we use colloquialisms, such as NO PROBLEM, SURE THING, ANYTIME, or NO BIG DEAL. However, all of those replies downplay the action for which you are being thanked, and you don’t want to do that!
Whoever is thanking you should understand that you went to some effort to perform whatever action caused this THANK YOU. So, go ahead and EARN THAT THANKS BY SAYING YOU’RE WELCOME and taking credit for your laudable action.
Don’t forget: Manners make the fortune of the ambitious youth – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
So, THANK YOU FOR READING!
