A couple months ago, a Stranger submitted a negative review on something I created. I had not realized that the product wasn’t working properly, and so I reached out to Stranger and apologized, offered a refund, and an alternative means to get the product. I won’t lie that I didn’t expect something in return: I expected a thank you, even if it was a “thank you for reaching out, but your product still sucks.” I was even hoping Stranger could one day become Friendly Acquaintance. Instead, Stranger responded curtly – in short, that I am not very bright. While Stranger is probably right about that last part, I was still buggered that Stranger was, well, so mean. My immediate reaction was to bite back, but then I realized I still owe Stranger a good product and it didn’t hurt me to simply be kind (I still have a fantasy Stranger will become Friendly Acquaintance one day, and frankly, I am grateful to Stranger for alerting me – and the world – to something no one else did so I can remedy the situation. Stranger, a genuine “thank you.”).

Social media and non-face-to-face contact have allowed many of us to forget simple etiquette and how to treat each other with respect and professionalism. A thank you can go a long way.

“Giving thanks fills you with light and joy so you can shine like the bright star you truly are.”
~ Amy Leigh Mercree

Power of Two Little Words

Laura Trice offers a quick, simple message: “thank you” is powerful. We often forget to say it, especially if it’s for something that we “expect” others to do. Yet it doesn’t require a lot from us, but what can gained can be invaluable.

The Tao of Simple Etiquette

Saying thank you has huge ROI.

1. Get over yourself

Sometimes we don’t get what we want. Sometimes people treat us like crap. Our first reaction might be to fight back or elevate the situation (maybe get a punch in or two). By remembering that it’s not just about you and that the other person  may have truly been offended or hurt can remind us that we can move things forward by remaining polite and professional.

2. Fight back with kindness

Some folks may think Pooh Bear to be too soft and too kind. Yet his kindness comes from a place of strength and confidence. He is always content with who he is so he can treat others with honey-coated kindness. That’s the best revenge.

3. Keep perspective

It is so easy to get bogged down with the details of “he said-she said” that we forget the bigger picture. Is the relationship really worth throwing away by being rude? Would a simple “thank you” or “my apologies” be the end of the world for you – or would those simple words enable your relationship to flourish? It’s not about being an apologetic doormat, but about being future-thinking.

4. Imagine everyone is watching
It’s so easy to act like a jerk when we’re hiding behind a pseudo name or texting without seeing someone’s eyes staring back at us. As we know, the world is tiny, and you never know who is watching. Just imagine you’re a walking reality TV star. Just don’t act like one. Imagine your grandmother is watching. She wouldn’t want to hear you cuss.

5. Pause and smile

In the moment, our emotions can push us to react impulsively. A simple moment of pausing and smiling (even if you don’t feel like it) can put the breaks on the cortisol levels from rising and remind your muscles to relax and (perhaps) see the humor in it all. Or at the very least, that it might not be so terrible a thing to be the mature one and act with composure. You might just get the last laugh.