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April 2009 Issue #4

Courtesy...

Courtesy in the 21st century

Executive Coaching: Courtesy as anger prevention

Public Workshop International Business Etiquette

Team Building: Courtesy as a cultural indicator

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Welcome to TURNING POINT.

Hello again,

When was the last time you challenged yourself on COURTESY?

We suspect it might have been a while ago. That's why this edition of Turning Point focuses on courtesy in the 21^st century.

The speed of modern life, the widening radius of social interactions (face to face or in virtual spaces such as Facebook or Twitter), and the increase of individualization make reconsidering courteous behavior a timely exercise.

It can be easy to quickly form opinions or criticize others when we are confronted with a lack of courtesy. We can feel offended, frustrated or even angry when people do not give way, or behave rudely or selfishly. On the other hand, courteous behavior such as an unexpected thank you note or someone opening the door for us can "make our day" and improves our opinion of the social standing of our courteous fellow citizens.

Courtesy in the business world is interpreted in different ways – respect, etiquette, politeness, ethics, professionalism, civility, interculturalism, to name a few. It is a key component of influencing without authority. This edition takes courtesy into the corporate context - how it affects your perceived social standing, intercultural relationships and leadership.

Tony, Reto and Joanna

Courtesy in the 21st century? "Sorry, no time for that."

Things have sped up. Since the creation of the internet, email and mobile phones, communication has become faster and generally more efficient - people can "meet" each other anytime, virtually anywhere. Some traditionally once life-long job assignments have been reduced to a couple of years, all the way up the rungs of the corporate ladder. The number of new inventions grows exponentially.

And it's not slowing down any time soon.

In these busy times, courtesy may appear as a luxury or a tribute to older generations. "Just do it" slogans and tough leadership seem to suggest that politeness on the way to success is not needed. “Sorry, but I don’t have any time for sentiments!”

Read on, to consider how cultivating your courtesy remains a modern and useful business skill – even in the 21st century…

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Executive Coaching: Courtesy as anger prevention

It may surprise you to know that "courtesy" is a very common coaching agenda. Anger management may be more familiar as a coaching topic. It sits at one extreme end of a spectrum – a very clear absence of courtesy. What is the opposite of anger? You might expect it to be an equally extreme, positive opposite – like joy for example. Actually, indifference is its opposite.

All relationships require maintenance. When there is no maintenance, when even courtesy is difficult to come by, the relationship silently suffocates. Lost courtesy is one of the poisonous indicators of indifference. Courtesy maintains relationships.

If I asked you whether men or women needed coaching around courtesy more, how would you answer? Read on...

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International Business Etiquette: 1-day Public Workshop

Discover the winning ingredients of 21st century business etiquette
with Joanna Williams.

Could you or your team benefit from business etiquette training?
Today's increasingly culturally diverse workforce has also increased the chances of doing or saying "the wrong thing". The international business environment now demands that business professionals at any level understand and use the principles of etiquette.

Why is international business etiquette important?
Etiquette is a key component of influencing without asserting authority. How professionals use etiquette to their advantage affects negotiations, intercultural relationships, leadership and ultimately success. Making a mistake in any situation that requires correct business etiquette can damage reputations and can reflect poorly on organizations and individuals.

Who should attend?
This is for managers with international colleagues, clients and/or suppliers, or anyone who wants to build stronger rapport and be more influential, to identify and avoid common etiquette pitfalls. Join this 1-day intensive workshop to continue your path to success, by knowing how to do and say "the right thing" Mannhart Consultants' workshops always blend useful business insights and skills with a fun and active atmosphere of professionals from a variety of industries.
Read more and register->

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Leadership: Courtesy as a cultural indicator

I sat through an interview once, hardly saying a word. I was patient, respectful, listening. The curious part: it was a job interview and I was the applicant. I did not have to say anything - just be courteous - and finally I was offered the job.

This scenario describes a common use of “gut feel” in interviewing. Presumably, this manager saw on my resume enough technical skill and experience to warrant being selected, and I demonstrated enough courtesy to promote a good feeling between us. I could see it was going well, I chose to stay quiet.

What do you think… should I have taken the job? Should I have been offered the job?
Read on to find out what happened...

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