In this new high-tech, less personal era, people are sometimes being quite rude in their interaction with others. And the others are noticing. So, here are some tips on what to avoid. If we want respect, we have to give respect.
According to Michael Hess, writing for CBS MoneyWatch, these are the “top 10 ways to be rude in business:”
- “Being late: Nothing says ‘your ever-shortening life is less important than mine’ than keeping someone waiting.”
- “Communication evasion: I see this more and more often — the phone rings, Mr. Important looks at the screen and doesn’t take the call even though he’s able to, then immediately responds with a text that says ‘what’s up?’It’s dismissive, even arrogant, and inefficient to boot.”
- “And the opposite… phone abuse: It seems all hope of self control is lost when it comes to our small screen addiction. We’ve all seen it: talking on the phone in a public restroom, texting during a conversation or meeting, emailing in a nice restaurant.”
- “Inviting messages, then ignoring them: If you have a voice mail box, it implies that you check and attend to them. Yet more and more people who have the standard ‘leave a message and I’ll get right back to you’ recording never listen to their voice mail.”
- “Being ungrateful: If someone does something nice for you, show your appreciation. Gratitude sometimes seems to be on the brink of extinction.”
- “Demanding instead of asking: There’s a world of difference in tone between ‘please get me that report’ and ‘get me that report.’ Sure, the recipient often understands it, but would it kill you to add one word?”
- “The cloak of anonymity: Notes without names on them — particularly to customers who may want or need to respond to you or keep records — are obnoxious. Who are you hiding from, and why?”
- “Dropping names: “I’m talking about not addressing people by name when you can and should be doing so. Again, this happens a lot in (poor) customer service. If someone gives you their name, use it when addressing them.”
- “Dissing job applicants: I am amazed at how often I’m told that companies interview good people and never contact them again. If a job applicant is good enough to be asked to visit you for an interview, you owe her a follow up, whether she got the job or not.”
- “Annoying the other 95 percent of the world: America may be the hub of the business world, but unfortunately many American business people act as if it is the center of the universe. I see it when people correspond with overseas companies, and I certainly see it in my international travels. Quiet, humble politeness is a universal language.”
Click the image to read more from Hess.
Photo by Skooba Design
I wonder how many people actually are rude like this. I have left many emails and voice mails to companies for internships, I have yet to hear back from them. In the business world humbleness is lost, I know a lot of people that have started working for top firms like Morgan and Stanley and Goldman Sachs, and they are just too cocky.
I believe Hess did a very good job of laying out this list. In today’s world it seems like some people do not even realize when they are being rude. Even simply not calling people by their names can be seen as rude, when a lot people in the workplace do not realize this. One point that I also believe should belong on this list is not showing up to work/calling in sick excessively as well as simply being lazy on the job. I think not working hard or not showing up at all are some of the rudest things an employee can do as it affects the company as a whole.