In this case, though, it would actually include training on how to do things like:
- how to ask again/remind someone of something they said they were going to do for you but have not yet
- how to communicate non-violently -- e.g. you would learn _not_ to say things like i heard a jerky coworker tell others repeatedly in the not too distant past, "I already told you yesterday, blah blah blah".
- the appropriate way to deal with situations when they're going sideways -- i.e. remain polite, at a minimum, e.g. another recent experience had a co-worker basically going off on a customer because the co-worker was impatient and incompetent.
- people don't know how to act *even when* they want to act correctly. the world is complicated, we don't all grow up in the same cultures, same happy/broken homes, etc.
- postive reinforcement in small drips/snippets, say, at the beginning of each day, can help not only train people properly, but also actually improve behavior
- this type of training _could_ greatly reduce worker suffering, whether at the hands of managers or non-manager co-workers
I think a lot of the School of Life site/store/school/whatever:
https://www.theschooloflife.com/
I think of them a lot because I often think to myself, 'man -- we need a school of _life_ or something'.
And then i look them up again and see how they're doing some of the things i think are cool, and some that are less than.
but in these times of civil society breakdown, i feel like this type of training could 'help the centre hold' -- in this case, the centre of the company, or a single worker's professional and/or personal life (as affected by what's happening at work).
so, maybe you're about to tell a co-worker to f-off, but...your 'keepin it real' morality lesson this morning told you how to deal with bottled up frustration -- e.g. go chill, take some time, wait until tomorrow to ask/say/do anything, ask co-worker if you can chat over coffee in the breakroom, break out the non-violence communication skills, talk it over, etc.
Benefits would in theory accrue to company bottom lines, worker happiness/satisfaction/dignity, etc.
If you find yourself advocating this, that tells me that either:
A. You’ve observed someone else needs these skills —- in which case you probably would be more effective by being direct and using NVC to talk to the other person or their manager.
B. You’ve noticed yourself lacking these skills —- in which case I encourage you to do yourself the awkward kindness of admitting your shortcomings to yourself and asking your boss if you’d get reimbursed for such a personal development course.
C. You’ve observed general culture problems at your company…which I have no good advice on how to handle as an IC. You can either change your team or change teams.
D. You enjoy talking about this sort of thing, in which case I encourage you to dive into it because it is fascinating. Google “clean language questions”.
It made me look at my behavior a little bit closer, but a lot of that book was BS from what I remember...
A few weeks ago, I would have generally agreed with this statement. But I have just driven across the US and visited a dozen or more different towns—-big and small—-along the way.
Everywhere I’ve been, people have been kind, generous, well-behaved, mannerly and law-abiding.
I now believe based on this experience that the sensationalism I am being fed in the media is negatively affecting my view of society.
Perhaps your course or workshop could include some real-world experience with real people acting civilly and productively.
My favorite times!
I don't think corporate etiquette should be sold as "not being a jerk", nor would it help a dying society. A professional elevates the needs of the customer above his own. In other forms of interpersonal conduct that is not recommended.
Otherwise, sure. But I believe that a lot of people would be more repelled if conduct is formalized into rules (See the COC wars). It is a form of artificial rule set in favor of something larger, mostly the interests of the respective company.