Being Nice Keeps the Trains Running on Time

By Tory Johnson
CEO of Women For Hire

One rule I enforce with my staff is that every e-mail must be answered the day it's received. Obviously I'm not referring to spam and unwanted junk. But if a current or prospective client has taken the time to write to us, I believe we owe them the courtesy of a response.

Ditto for speaking to people who call the office rather than diverting them to voicemail. Sure, if someone isn't available to take the call, leaving a message is inevitable. But "isn't available" shouldn't be the same as "I don't feel like talking to this caller."

In my book, voicemail shouldn't be a screening tool or a place to hide from unwanted callers. It's often easier to face the music: Let the caller know that you're not interested or that you can't talk now.

This is not only courteous and professional; it also prevents the pileup of messages, which many people just wind up ignoring anyway. And that only perpetuates the cycle of rudeness.

Skipping an RSVP is another business no-no. I'm not proud to admit that I'm guilty here; I receive invitations to numerous professional events, and when I'm not interested, I simply toss them, thereby completely ignoring the request for a response. Not good.

As I plan my own events, I realize the value of hearing back from people. When I don't hear anything, I wonder if they aren't interested or if they didn't receive the information I sent. I'm just as appreciative for the responses declining our invitation as I am for those who accept. I've since vowed to extend the same courtesy to those nice enough to include me on their lists, even if I must send my regrets.

It's the simple niceties that often go by the wayside as we're busier than ever and bombarded with all forms of communication-electronic, verbal, written and more. I hate that. While I admire the author Lois Frankel for her exceptional work in advancing women, I'm not a fan of her best-seller, Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office. I'm a firm believer that nice people can-and do-definitely succeed in business. And in small operations, a pleasant personality can often mean the difference between success and failure.

But if you can spare just 10 minutes a day to devote to these little details, you'll not only get more accomplished-messages moved from your inbox and general mail discarded, for example-you'll also make someone else's day.

Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire (www.womenforhire.com).

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