Business I career coach Please And Thank You A fter working out at a health club many years ago, I smiled at an elderly gentlemen and said "excuse me" so I could get into my locker without bumping into him. Later that morning, he stopped me and asked me if my mother was alive. I was a bit startled by the question; but I answered, "No." The man told me that if she were alive, he would have told me to call her and thank her for teaching me to be polite. "I'm here every day at the same locker," he said. "People run past me and no one ever, even stops to say excuse me." I use this story in my own day-to-day executive coaching role to explain how important it is to use good manners in managing employees. It took minimal effort to smile at a kind man and even less to say "excuse me" so I could pass him without being rude. Would you have ignored this man? Do you say "please" to a manager who reports to you before asking him to complete a budget for next year? Do you express grat- itude for jobs well done or are This is not acceptable, so won't you a just a task master who you please join me in 2008 and forgets simple manners when ring in the secular New Year on a high road? Let's bring good, old- managing people? I've heard many excuses fashioned manners back into the from managers who lack boardroom. Here's a quick cheat manners and the ability to sheet to get you started: offer any praise for good work. • Memorize — and use Some worry that praise or — these words in every conver- Robert Sher sation: Please and thank you. basic kindness might encour- Colum nist age employees to ask for pay • Smile — it takes fewer raises. Others spend more muscles to smile than it does to time on their computers, in meetings, typ- frown. It makes you more attractive, more ing e-mail messages on Blackberries and approachable and easier to please. • Be positive. Walk around the office; at lunch with cell phones glued to their greet your employees ears than engag- ing in meaningful in the morning and "Let's bring g ood, old- conversations with say good night at fashioned man ners back quitting time. people. • Turn off your cell Some are so into the board room." focused on the bot- phone when you are tom line they forget in a meeting or at to look others in the eye, open their doors lunch. Do not text message while having a to their offices or even say "good morning" conversation with another person. • Try doing one random act of kindness to their staff. every day for an unsuspecting employee. (Stop and chat with the mail clerk; ask the security guard about his children; tell your administrative assistant to take an extra half hour for lunch one day.) Many of you may already know my favorite expression: "A fish rots from the top down." If you are stinky, your employ- ees will be stinky; but, if you are polite, they will follow your lead, be polite and, ultimately, feel good at work. What hap- pens when employees feel good at work? They are happy and, therefore, produce quality work. Using good manners is — and always has been — a win-win for everybody. ❑ Robert Sher, CPA, is a certified executive coach. Formerly CFO and partner for Livonia- based Schostak Brothers & Co., he now serves on the West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees and is treasurer of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Foundation. His e-mail address is: info@bobshercom. TAX PREPARATION CORPORATE AND PERSONAL Electronic Filing both Federal & State Levy & Associates can help! 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