Page 124 - The Voice of Authority

Be Courteous—Remember to Kick the Copier

Day in and day out, it’s the small things that kill our spirit:
The sales rep who empties his cold coffee and leaves the
splatters all over the sink. The manager who uses the last
drop of lotion and doesn’t refill the container. The analyst
who walks away from the printer, leaving the red light
flashing “paper jam.” The boss who walks into the reserved
conference room in the middle of a meeting and bumps
everybody out for an “urgent” strategic planning meeting.
The person who cuts in line at the cafeteria cash register.
The guy who answers his cell phone and tries to carry on
a conversation out loud in the middle of a meeting.
Even the smallest courtesies kindle a fire that ignites
chemistry and builds kinship. The courtesy of saying
“hello” when you come into the office after being away.
The courtesy of letting people know when you’re going to
be away for an extended period. The courtesy of honoring
policies about reserving rooms, spaces, and equipment for
activities. The courtesy of a simple “please,” “thank you,”
and “you’re welcome” for small favors.

Share a Sense of Humor

No matter whether people agree or disagree with George
W. Bush’s political positions, they typically admire his self-
deprecating humor. At one of the Washington correspon-
dents’ dinners, that ability to poke fun at himself seemed
to be the primary thing the media responded to favorably.
Bush said at the lectern, “I always enjoy these events. But
why couldn’t I have dinner with the 36 percent of the
people who like me?”
At one such event, Bush even brought along his
“double,” comedian Steve Bridges, to make fun of his

112 The Voice of Authority