Courtesy In The Workplace -- Can You Say, Thank You?

Thank you is such a beautiful phrase. When you say, thank you, it makes a world of difference. Recent research suggests that discourtesy in the workplace is rapidly becoming an increasing dilemma for businesses and organizations. Workplace incivility is growing, including an increase in bad manners, rudeness, coarseness, vulgarity, and a lack of respect.

In 1999, researchers Pearson, Andersson, and Porath at The University of North Carolina Business School determined that incivility in the workplace can impact company profits due to lost productivity and employee turnover. Their studies indicated the significance of this impact as follows:

People who experience rude behavior on the job:

  • Quit their jobs(12%)
  • Lose work time(52%)
  • Deliberately decrease their work effort(22%)

However the most disturbing result was that over 78% of those surveyed said that this kind of behavior has worsened in the past decade.

Why Say, Thank You?

  • It demonstrates that you value courtesy and good manners. Saying thank you for something you have received, no matter how small is a great way to communicate. It shows understanding and encourages a positive reception and acceptance.
  • It promotes good health and a successful lifestyle. Extending common courtesy to others demonstrates maturity and a healthy self-esteem.
  • It is fundamental to strong interpersonal relationships and in building rapport. It really doesn't take much to be cordial to others by saying please and thank you as you carry out business and job responsibilities.
  • How to Form a Thank You Habit

  • Learn and practice proper work etiquette. Get back to basics and focus on how you can make your workplace a more pleasant environment for all-bosses, workers, and customers. Acknowledge in some way each person you meet even if it is only with eye contact, a nod or smile.
  • Concentrate on creating pleasant and agreeable experiences for everyone who interacts with you. Be gracious and considerate. Watch for uncivil behavior. Every day you are presented with situations that allow you to show common courtesy and consideration to others. Be proactive and take advantage of every opportunity to be cordial.
  • Minimize any It's-All-About-Me tendencies. Instead Do unto Others as You Would Have Them Do unto You by displaying empathy and finding opportunities to increase your connection. Remember how it feels when someone insults you or is rude to you. Think about what you can do to improve civility in your work unit, team or department. Then, just do it!
  • Be sincere and genuine. Your efforts must be honest and heartfelt. Being courteous comes not from your head but from your heart. If your actions do not match your words, then your efforts will be in vain.
  • Never underestimate the power of a Thank You! Take time to acknowledge and extend courtesy to someone today!

    Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, strategy@work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit strategy@work.

    tidy up service Glenview ..
    In The News:

    Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
    New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
    A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
    AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
    A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
    New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
    Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
    Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
    Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
    Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
    Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
    Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
    Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.
    iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.
    Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.
    FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.
    Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.
    Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.
    Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.
    Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.
    Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.
    The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
    Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.
    New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

    Your Thoughts Are Powerful

    The only thing between you and your desire to be... Read More

    A Rain Secret To Change Your Mind

    Heard of a raindance? It is a ritual used by... Read More

    Positive Thinking: Are You Truly Being Positive?

    Positive thinking in this day and age is a tool... Read More

    Our Worst Enemies

    Most of us love to think that our problems are... Read More

    Positive Mental Attitude

    Look at this glass on the table in front of... Read More

    Attitude Is Everything! Make it Great!

    Change your attitude, change your lifeIn my experiences, I've found... Read More

    The Illusion of Failure

    The most dangerous thing is illusion. ~ Ralph Waldo EmersonFailure... Read More

    Start Living Your Dreams Today With a Positive Attitude

    "Those people who think they can do something and those... Read More

    Are You A Victim Of FABS? Part One

    Have you heard of the FABS? The FABS are quadruplets;... Read More

    Turning Fear Into Power

    How would your life shift if you moved into what... Read More

    Managing Life Changes the Tetris Way (or How to Let the Blocks Fall with Skill and Grace)

    Are you undergoing a major life change? Or merely trying... Read More

    Let Go of Resentment

    Maureen worked in an office with twenty other people, processing... Read More

    Self-Opinions---Can Limit Our Lives

    Dr. Phil says each of us has a personal "truth"... Read More

    In A Slump?, Rejoice I Say, Rejoice!

    Yea, I know........I hear you saying "that's easy for you... Read More

    Condition or Definition?

    In talking with a coaching client recently, she made a... Read More

    Your Best Defense Against Aging: Your Attitude To Life

    In the international bestseller, Blink, Malcolm Gladwell explains how researchers... Read More

    Balanced Living: 18 Steps

    A balanced life not only leaves you feeling more fulfilled;... Read More

    Reality Exposed

    Did you know that our thoughts may be influencing our... Read More

    Then My Boss Said, Take That Fear And Shove It!

    Hey gang; Ok it's time to create some good habits.... Read More

    Establish What you Want with NLP

    Recently, a lady came to see me and she had... Read More

    Are Your ANTs Taking Over Your Life?

    One of the first things that I work on with... Read More

    An Exercise To Open Your Mind To Your Possibilities

    Everything exists twice. First, in your mind. Later, before you... Read More

    Make a Personal Commitment to Change Your Life!

    So, is this really where you thought you'd be? You're... Read More

    Lessons From Anakin Skywalker: Making Better Choices Through Recognizing And Managing Our Fears

    In the latest and final Star Wars saga, Anakin Skywalker... Read More

    Banishing Hannibal Lecter Personalities From Your Life

    We all know them. We all have somebody like them... Read More

    maid service near Winnetka ..