La Politesse… the practical application of good manners
La Politesse… the practical application of good manners
Just back from celebrating New Year in an apartment off Belleville in Paris, [yes, how cool was that?] when it struck me once again how different the French are with their politeness and personal greetings. Is it just social grace and cultural etiquette or is something that everyone is taught to do?
No matter where you go, how you travel and what you see there is always someone greeting you with an agreeable “Good day” and “Goodbye”. Those working and living in the USA are also well practised and versed in delivering and receiving the familiar “Have a good day” and I just wondered what difference it makes to those employees who serve and greet us at all times of the day.
The role of customer service is often overlooked. The characteristics of someone who can effortlessly, pleasantly and courteously assist, advise and deliver excellent customer service are many, some of which may well be influenced by culture or education and others are learned through training and discipline.
When you’re looking to employ someone and you know what skills and experience are required it can be easy to overlook simple things like pleasantries, communication skills and interpersonal engagement: all of which can contribute to making your client’s experience one they want to repeat.
Recruitment processes can be well structured to ensure that you not only ask the right questions to get the right person but you also get to recognise the right traits that will suit and benefit your business.
Lynn Tulip
About Lynn TulipLynn Tulip is a career management and HR professional running her own HR consultancy. Her passion is working with individuals, helping them rekindle their work passion. Read the newly published Get That Job, the art of successful job hunting.. Apart from loving food and fitness, she enjoys her ever growing family. Find her online or follow her @LynnTulip and @A4P_HR
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12 Responses to La Politesse… the practical application of good manners
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Too true. Good manners cost nothing – neither in time nor money – yet all too often they are brushed off like dandruff, considered superfluous to modern business requirements.
But people who disregard the importance of good manners are being very short-sighted, especially where relationships with customers are concerned. And that covers “internal” customers as well as those to whom we sell.
As Lynn suggests, good manners should be an integral requirement of any job specification where applicants are expected to interface with others.
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
Too true. Good manners cost nothing – neither in time nor money – yet all too often they are brushed off like dandruff, considered superfluous to modern business requirements.
But people who disregard the importance of good manners are being very short-sighted, especially where relationships with customers are concerned. And that covers “internal” customers as well as those to whom we sell.
As Lynn suggests, good manners should be an integral requirement of any job specification where applicants are expected to interface with others.
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
Good manners go a long, long way in business
I really enjoyed ready this Lynn, often I would have employees on my team who had to be taught to be polite – at first it sounds so false, but then in time it becomes natural. Perhaps, it becomes second nature, as many parents teach politeness to their children.
At some point they must willingly drop it or naively think it has no place in the workplace.
Good manners go a long, long way in business
I really enjoyed ready this Lynn, often I would have employees on my team who had to be taught to be polite – at first it sounds so false, but then in time it becomes natural. Perhaps, it becomes second nature, as many parents teach politeness to their children.
At some point they must willingly drop it or naively think it has no place in the workplace.
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Complete agreement from me too Lynn! Generally customers respond extremely well to politeness and courtesy – it makes a good shopping experience better and if, for some reason you have to impart less than good news (like a snow delayed delivery:/), then it can sweeten a bitter pill considerably.
Complete agreement from me too Lynn! Generally customers respond extremely well to politeness and courtesy – it makes a good shopping experience better and if, for some reason you have to impart less than good news (like a snow delayed delivery:/), then it can sweeten a bitter pill considerably.
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I tend to shop at places that have shown manners and been polite and helpful – the same goes for restaurants and people I do business with.
It doesn’t take much to greet someone or show them some manners and it makes all the difference.
I was surprised the other day when in the cinema when the young man said “enjoy the film” whilst handing us our tickets. Both me and my partner commented on how lovely it was and then thought that actually it should be best practice to wish your customers an enjoyable experience but it is all too often forgotten.
The biggest place I have found it to be a major problem, and the lack of customer service is in call centres – I’m not tarring them all with the same brush but I have yet to find a company with a decent service over the telephone.
Thanks for the great blog Lynn : )
I tend to shop at places that have shown manners and been polite and helpful – the same goes for restaurants and people I do business with.
It doesn’t take much to greet someone or show them some manners and it makes all the difference.
I was surprised the other day when in the cinema when the young man said “enjoy the film” whilst handing us our tickets. Both me and my partner commented on how lovely it was and then thought that actually it should be best practice to wish your customers an enjoyable experience but it is all too often forgotten.
The biggest place I have found it to be a major problem, and the lack of customer service is in call centres – I’m not tarring them all with the same brush but I have yet to find a company with a decent service over the telephone.
Thanks for the great blog Lynn : )
Yeah – too right. There is so much in this subject there ought to be courses on it. I only recognise this because I am so bad at it. Example: You meet 2 friends/colleagues/clients who don’t know each other. Historically I never introduced them to each other – BAAAD! I’m getting better, but only a few weeks ago I met A & B, and comprehensively introduced A to B and ……. that was it! It was so excruciatingly bad it was actually funny. Fortunately B was up to the situation and introduced themselves to A!
Yes manners are a lot more than politeness, they carry a function.
Great Blog!
Yeah – too right. There is so much in this subject there ought to be courses on it. I only recognise this because I am so bad at it. Example: You meet 2 friends/colleagues/clients who don’t know each other. Historically I never introduced them to each other – BAAAD! I’m getting better, but only a few weeks ago I met A & B, and comprehensively introduced A to B and ……. that was it! It was so excruciatingly bad it was actually funny. Fortunately B was up to the situation and introduced themselves to A!
Yes manners are a lot more than politeness, they carry a function.
Great Blog!