The Importance of Silence

I agree and admit - I am, I have been and will continue to be a talkative soul. But then, there are circumstances that occur that may not entirely be conducive to non stop talking and your voice which may be music to your ears, may be a loud annoying sound to the listener!

• At a play or at the movies, a constant chatter could get you into trouble.
• At a spa or even if you have gone for a simple foot reflexology session, you zip up and ensure that the person with you too- zips up. You may be ok with your chatter, but the ones around
  you may just be enjoying a quiet moment.
• When someone is busy readying. Show the person some respect by asking for permission before you go on with your chatter.
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  Toning your voice down or maintaining that silence, actually speaks for the respect you show/share to a person or a situation. It’s one of the key pillars of Being Human.
  
  
• When someone is busy concentrating on whatever work they may be doing, such as, a hair stylist, a doctor, always wait till he is done with a procedure before you bombard him. If he is doing something that you are interested in, and then ask in advance if you could ask him questions. If you need to interrupt him at that very moment, then, say “May I bother you
  for a second by asking you a question”.
• A place of worship is never a place to nudge the person with you to look at the lady wearing a lovely saree or gossip about the colour combination.
• Sometimes when the person is elder to you and busy having a flash back of their past, it's best you let them speak and remain a silent and pleasant faced spectator! Don't question, unless appropriate, just listen!
• On a flight, your co-passenger has drifted off to sleep. Please be considerate and tone the voice down.
• At a funeral – there are people mourning the loss of someone from the family. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, talk softly if you have to, else, maintain that silence.

The Office Party!!

We often see offices in India, celebrate festivals, be it Diwali or Christmas. And then, there are those office parties which we celebrate, such a success party or birthdays. So how to conduct a office party?

• Most important- Remember that this is one time where you are allowed to mix business with pleasure. So be ultra careful and handle pleasure with a lot of care.
  
• Unless specified that you can bring in a friend or your partner, refrain.
  
• This is one party where your boss will also be present. You can be yourself, but don’t forget to not let yourself go completely!
  
• If there is free flowing alcohol, that ultra careful bit I mentioned earlier, should be carried to the top of your brain from where it can issue you with safe warnings!
  
• Dress appropriately and please don’t give the wrong impression with your clothes.
  
• Do not stand in one place and never indulge in disapproving side glances!
  
• Be very careful if you are taking pictures. Always ask permission, especially if you are a social network fan and intend to post everything there!
  
• Never forget your Please and Thank You’s.
  
• Remember protocol works even here. If you are standing in line for dinner, it is indeed appropriate to offer a plate to your boss, who maybe standing behind you. What he does with it would speak for his etiquette of course.

Office parties are fun and great opportunities at clearing the air about misunderstandings and making friends. Be careful and smart.

Customer Care Etiquettes

Had heard about a clothing store, in a small city, who's designs are world famous and the store boasted of its foreign clientele. So I trooped in with a business colleague, and I was able to suitably impress upon her, why we should buy from this particular store. On the small counter I placed a few outfits I wanted to purchase and as I was doing so, my associate too kept some on top of my pile for my approval. Amid this, she had placed 2 sets of bangles, which I didn't know of and as I was sorting out the final lot for purchase, the bangles came crashing down and one of them broke. What I didn't know was that they were of lac! Now here the real story on etiquette begins. Billing starts by the grumpy staff who only wanted us out as he kept constantly glancing at his watch telling us with his body language that he want-ed us out. Bill crosses more than a couple of thousands and to this gets added the broken bangles. I was quite stumped at that. The boy at the counter insists I pick up the tab as I 'broke' them. His choice of language included the mention of sentences like 'its your fault' while not once accepting the fact that while he did see my associate placing the bangles on the table, he did not even care to mention that they are breakable. Requests to speak with a decision maker were turned down by him, body language got worse and language more offensive. We wisely exited the store knowing fully well that it didn't make a difference to him about losing business at all.

Lesson to be learnt:

Advise your staff about what their body speaks to a customer and educate them on correct body language.

B             Empower them with common sense and a sense of responsibility for their own actions.

B             Teach them to know the difference between loss of business vs loss of good will.

B             Teach them that humility works miracles and they are not above a sorry either!

How to Change Your Attitude at the Workplace

Workplace stress plays a key role in a worker’s attitude. But even in relatively low-stress situations, some people have difficulty maintaining a positive attitude. It is important for you to realize that you have the most control over your own attitude, and if you truly desire to change it for the better, you will need to take action on your own. Making the effort to improve your attitude can pay off.

 Step 1: Act with passion for your career. If your work is fun for you, it will help carry you through times when you work is difficult. Passion will make people want to work for and with you.

 Step 2: Create your own future, based on your wants and desires. Find one item that you can do to move yourself forward and concentrate on it, rather than wasting time complaining, which does not accomplish anything long term.

 Step 3: Choose your words carefully. Do not concentrate on what you cannot do, but instead look for ways to state your goals in a positive way. Find the words that energize you, and use them to lift mood.

 Step 4: Take every opportunity that comes your way. While you may look at an appointment with a prospective client as a waste of time, consider this appointment, and any other opportunity, as a chance to shine.

 Step 5: Adjust your physical environment to match your desired outcome. Make sure that your office lighting and temperature are comfortable. Have photographs and painting around your workspace that make you feel good about yourself.