It's a legitimate business practice. Also,
it's just plain common sense and good manners. We take care of each other. It's what we do.
My mom has always been Little Miss Thank You. (Okay, well, there
were times when she was Little Miss Stop Yelling or So Help Me, but that's
irrelevant.) She taught me to say thank you at any and every opportunity. If I
forget everything else (like saying Bless
You when someone sneezes
because I think it's ridiculous, what are we blessing them for exactly?) I will
always remember the importance of showing gratitude.
And here's a little bit of a tip, showing gratitude opens doors
for you. Asking for help in a respectful way and then being
oh-so-grateful when it arrives ensures that people will want to help you the
next time. However, when someone does the best they can to come to our aid
(however well they accomplish the task) and we don't respond, it can be
construed as ungrateful or worse, entitled. That's not the impression we want
to make in our personal or professional lives.
So, as a budding author, seasoned educator, and well-established
resident of the planet, let me pass along a few tips. From Ms. Etiquette
to you, in the realms of business (i.e. writing, marketing, etc.) and life:
Say Please: it may not be a magic
word, but it is genteel.
It's all right if we don't have all the answers. We can ask for help. And we
must do it in a kindly way.
Say Thank You: do it a lot! Make sure those in your corner of the universe know
they are appreciated. Especially when someone goes above and beyond the call of
duty, just share the love! Fake effusions are of no use, but
heartfelt thanks are always in order. (And maybe chocolate.)
Learn to Apologize Appropriately: this is isn't a
grumbled Sorry, this is an admission of guilt or at least of
ownership over the mistake. Again, flowery isn't helpful. True sincerity can be
conveyed simply and eloquently.
Learn to Forgive and Move on: gracious acceptance of an apology, as well as speedy forgiveness,
is always attractive. Sometimes we won't have the luxury receiving an
appropriate apology. This is when we pull on the big girl panties and move on. Clinging to old
offenses only damages us, our prospects, and ultimately our professional and
personal life. (While we're at it, we'll forgive ourselves for our mistakes and
shortcomings as well.)
We're All In This Together: develop the mindset of
personal responsibility within the group. I am responsible for who is around me
and what happens around me. I will do my best to act and respond in a
respectful way.
Would you like to learn a bit more about writerly etiquette? Try The Good, The Bad, & The Meh, There Are Weirdos For Everyone, Author Envy, or My First... Happy reading!
