A few minutes ago I was relaxing reading another Stuart Woods novel, I’m going through those books like free drinks at an all inclusive resort.  But I digress,  the phone rings and a polite voice asks for me, and once identified requests permission to come provide service in 20 minutes.

It’s my tree spraying service guy, he sprays my plum and cherry tree, and today he makes a strong, memorable impression that is positive. Isn’t that a pleasant change?

I’m talking about manners, especially verbally. Good Manners, not only should it happen, we should expect it, nay,  demand it.

I decided to quickly lawnmow the last corner of my lawn that I was going to do later so since this guy isn’t coming for 20 minutes, I zip outside and out back to get’er done.

About 10 minutes later,  Cody, the sprayer is peeking over my fence into my back yard.  I notice he doesn’t barge in, I notice he doesn’t yell at me to get my attention, he could have been waiting a few minutes but he didn’t mention it.

So I  shut down the mowing beast, and Cody addressed me as Sir. He says that a breeze has popped up and would it be alright if he delayed until 5:30 AM tomorrow. I say fine, and he thanks me again and calls me SIR again.  (He is already here, has his truck, he’s wearing his mask on his head, but he wants to do the best job I presume so he would rather make a second trip, I’m impressed….positively) He makes a quick comment about the good weather and turns to leave and I thank him. He again uses Sir and wishes me a good day.

I am standing beside my lawnmower beast thinking, “We should be surprised about good manners, but I am. But I am also impressed, in the best way.”

It gets me thinking about manners. It starts me thinking about business manners and the importance of TSP.

• Thinking

• Speaking

• Persuading

At some point I believe this young man was thinking about his customers, and how he wanted them to feel, perhaps how he likes to be treated.

This thinking lead to him Speaking after thinking, and not without.  You and I are more used to the latter instead of the former.

Since he thought, spoke after thinking, his words had the power of Persuasion.  Not only am I glad of his service, but I would recommend the business.

If you are in business, would you like to Persuade? Probably, and likely you just need to remember the steps that have to precede. Thinking. Speaking.

Etiquette or Manners are the rules of behavior for all types of situations, social, business, at the gym,  in line at Starbucks,  and in your own home.  It strikes me the value of always knowing the rules because they are really to do with respect for others.

Forbes has some rules for us – general use suggestions, read the Starbucks one (rule #7) and see if you don’t nod your head! Link Here

Thanks for reading!