Rudeness at Work

I should be used to reading about things like this, but the rudeness article Mr. Trump links to still manages to bring a degree of shock.

A lot of these types of subjects are difficult to talk about in a general sense. I would almost say that in terms of taking preventative actions, the approach would vary drastically depending on the company and employees being addressed.

But in that general sense, a positive atmosphere is really the major key. It seems many people focus on training management to pick up possible signs of distress within the work force, but in my opinion the jobs of the managers are critical to preventing that distress to begin with. The higher a person gets in rank, the less human people below them seem to appear - and it's a natural trap, since virtually all business, finance and management resources quantize people and refer to them by numbers. But really, a good manager simply has to understand that there is more to those individuals than matching numbers and applying criteria.

A positive attitude in the office is a great thing when properly nourished. It unifies people, allows them to get through the most difficult of challenges and allows managers to focus on more important tasks. There are just far too many advantages to pass up. Once an employee sees that environment, it alone will almost always sell them, since there is no shortage of dreadful alternatives they could compare it with. Most people I've talked to would rather get paid less but work in a better environment, than the other way around.

A "rude" person will not survive in a positive environment. They would make themselves instantly visible. In the long run, they would either convert or leave. It's hard, but not impossible to build a very dynamic and compatible 15-people team. But it's extraordinarily difficult to build and maintain a multi-level 5000-people workforce with the same degree of efficiency. Which brings me to my last point.

I've once talked to a VP of a great bank in Taiwan who has had extremely strong impact on shaping my thoughts when it comes to business and handling of both customers and employees. His approach was focused on establishing a system of "cumulative benefit". In essence, keeping all sides of the equation happy by providing active and personal encouragement for the employees, as well as making customer satisfaction a top priority. Every morning, he made short video appearances that were broadcast to every branch of that bank, to welcome the employees, convey any good news and address any issues that the employees have made light of to the management. This brought the management much closer to the people and helped dissolve the "big nameless corporation" feel that many people seem to experience when working for a such a large company. It took 3 minutes out of his morning routine (save for some preparation work), but made a gigantic difference to employee morale.

There are many practical ways to lower or completely eliminate rudeness and incivility at the workplace, and a good company will employ many of those ways at once. It's not rocket science, but it's a mix of psychology and common sense. Thank you to Mr. Trump for another interesting post!

If rudeness is prevalent in a work place, look at the leader and his key executives....and then look at the employee turn over rate...then look who has been around for years. Last but not least, look at the organization's success - rudeness kills innovation, teamwork, and ultimately the organization.

http://jessicabond.blogspot.com/search/label/Bullies

I agree with the statement that: "When someone quits because they are treated rudely, this affects organizations’ bottom lines, because now they have to invest resources in hiring someone else." The talent recruitment, which may have place during both the cycle of business growth and the cycle of economic recession, is a very expensive process in terms of money, time for search, time for bringing a hired person "up to speed," for every organization.

Oh come on, we've all known rude people who have done quite well for themselves. The phrase "nice people never get ahead" didn't just show up - it's been proven over and over again. The trick here is to take the long term view: just how far can a rude person go? It turns out that they can go pretty far. However, if you choose the path of rudeness (I'm not sure if that really makes sense), then you're going to have to get use to three things: (1) being lonely, (2) always taking the opposite side of any discussion - just because that's what rude people do, and (3) always being on the lookout for someone who is trying to out-rude you.

Clearly this is one of those cases where you need to be careful - rudeness just might get you what you've been asking for, but you might not want it once you have it!

- Dr. Jim Anderson
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"Learn The Secrets of Side-By-Side Negotiating To Get The Most Value Out Of Every Negotiation"

The following is true: I made a suggestion to Defense Logistics Agency through General Services Administration "97RW-026 USE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES" which was submitted at Defense logistics agency in 1997, it took five years of 1. quoting United States Code Title 40 Section 2232 and subsection 819 with a cost savings of ten-thousand dollars a vehicle to Defense Logistics Agency headquarters in Virginia, Vice President Al Gore all to no avail and being laughed at by GM14 Dave Innis who had stock in John Deer and pushed "Gators" which are illegal to use in a warehouse. Finaly, Herbet Walker Bush was entertaining the Presidents of Egypt and Israel when the toilet broke at Camp David. President Bush tried calling the Camp's full time plummer John who was operating a Gator that produces eighty decibels. Needless to say John never got the radio call and the secret service chased him down. During the incident President Bush saw my proposal and noticed that the Global Electric Motocar Truck operated at five decibels and could haul 800 LBS at 25 mph for 25 miles using a three prong plug for oppurtunity charging. Dave Innis was forced to implement my suggestion in 2002 and his plan was to buy these vehicles from the failed golf course of then Govenor Davis of California and to only award me five hundred dollars saying that is all he can give a civil service worker for a suggestion. Then GM 14 Mike Malcovoy took credit for my suggestion and received a thousand dollars from Defense Logistics Agency. Yes, the agency is now using these vehicles that were reluctantly purchased and saving tons of money.
Case Two: October 15 2006 Combined Federal Campaign at the same Depot. I was the Key person and got Paralympic hopeful Fred Hess and Julie Shoemaker to come to Defense logistics Agency for a funding talk for fund raising for United Cerebral palsy organization Stockton California. Mr. Fred Green GM14 did not like my getting a quadraplegic to talk and therefore had My Boss WS08 Clayton Phillips to grab all my things for this campaign and tell Director Julie Shoemaker of united Cerebral Palsy Organization San Joaquin Chapter that he did not want any cripples on his base and that he himself was ordering all civil service employees not to contribute to the charity. I might point out that United Cerebral alsy works with MDA through Augies Quest.

In conclusion, I have retired from civil service and Defense Depot Joaquin Center with many friends there. I am continuing to work with ZAP WORLD in hopes of opening a business with electric vehicles to fund my passion for "Sailability" a fully accessable community sailing program on Lakes Perris-Diamond Valley-Skinner-Elsinore with the Lusieno` Tribe and the Inland Cherokees.

I have a great idea. Have Donald buy all of the T.V. stations so Rosie can't get any air time. LOL
Thank You
Gloria Stuart

I agree with the article completely. In my experience, when those in authority create tension within the office environment, it sets off a chain reaction of under-productivity, which starts with "you" and ends ... who knows where.

There is no need to be an arse (excuse my "French") in order to enforce one's authority in the workplace. Those who do not respect their Managers, Directors, or make an unforgivable mess of things should merely be reprimanded. You have to run a "tight ship", ensuring that there is a definitive procedure present and understood by all, when it comes to written warnings and hearings. This way, employees know that if and when they step out of line in any way, they will be punished. With an efficient system in place, one would assume that your employees would be trying their level best to deliver work of an optimum level, so as to avoid being disciplined, and possibly fired.

Employers should then understand that everyone is working toward the "same" goal at the end of the day, and that there is no need to "rule" with an iron fist, or throw a fit when an employee makes a mistake. We ALL make mistakes. Nobody can produce perfect results 100% of the time. The likelihood that the employee has made the mistake deliberately is highly doubtful.

My point being that Managers and Directors should realise the effect they have on the work place. They should think carefully about how they approach situations involving their employees. We are all human. We all want and fear the same things. The employee/employer relationship within any business should be viewed as a partnership, because every single individual working for a company plays an important role in making that business successful.

Hostile work environments can also be very costly to people's health and to the company pocketbook. I have a friend who is an identical twin. She and her sister had very similar lives except for their work environments. Her sister's was relaxed, my friend's was rude, stressful and with discrimination. As a result of the stress she was under, as determined by qualified medical professionals, she had a stroke. Her sister is in great health. This was about three years ago. Last week, she walked her first mile around the track. The organization she worked for paid a hefty price too - but who can put a dollar value on your health?

I concur!
It can bring down the moral of the entire team, when rudeness is the nature of the boss.
Fearing loss of their loved positions, many in the team do not complain about the nature of the boss. This I believe causes both the company and individual to suffer. As Steven Covey would say, it would be a "no win", or "lose/lose" situation!

On principle I can not stand and watch this go on. Though I too fear possible minipulation on his part causing loss for me.
In weighing up my job and on the other hand, an effort to bring balance back, I tend to want to help the situation.

BUT, then I consider that he has infact managed his primary goal, which is to reach target.
He also displays pristine communication with equal or higher management. So he is making his superiors happy I would assume. Just those beneath him (I use "beneath" as it is fitting) are the ones who suffer.

I have decided to just continue doing what I do, well.

Rudeness is defined as Idiots that you work with!! If your suppost be a Professional then why cant you be one? Instead you act like a spoiled kids that didnt get candy for the day! If someone is Rude.. I think they make the choice to be Rude.. I think when you work with others and they become Rude.. Who is the Idiot?? It sure is not me.. Rudeness is defined by the Ability to be self absorbed in ones
ability to suffer with there inner demons! Rudeness cannot be Professional @ all. I would like to see how they act @ home... Wow are you that Rude to your husband and kids? If they are then they are
IDIOTS!! Can Rude people be happy? I think not..They are to be busy with trying to order others around and see how big they think they are in the work place.. Oh yes but dont forget Im not the Rude one you are!! Rude people try to blame you for there mistakes..Rudeness is the underlying problem with the work place today.. If your Rude why dont you fix your Problem,, or better yet dont come to work because your Rudeness would not be MISSED!! Or better yet WHY DONT YOU GET INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY AND NOT MISERABLE!!! Because evidently your LIFE SUCKS OR YOU WOULNDT BE THE RUDE PERSON THAT YOU ARE.... Rude people are low on my list of Professionals.. You are not Professional,Smart,or even someone i can relate to and the reason why is BECAUSE YOUR AN IDIOT!! But dont Forget.................... Have a Nice Day....

I agree totally with this statement and blog. I work in an organization who is experiencing whatever has been written. It kills people. I learned at an early age, treat people how you want to be treated. That has been my key to success. From big CEO's, Fortune 500, celebrities, and down to the person who keeps the place clean, each person receives the same hello and each person recieves the needed attention to fulfill the work they need to accomplish. At times most of us have a bad day, and it is going to happen.

Problem with today's society is that every kid who comes out of a big school and lands his first job thinks they can carry a chip on there shoulder. That is not the case. Your success is in relation to the foundation that was provided to you, so never take it for granted and NEVER EVER EVER treat people Rude especially when you share more time with them then your own family.