"Sir" and "Ma'am"
American
culture is pretty informal compared to many other places in the world,
but a little bit of formality can really make you stand out in a
positive way. I carry this inclination from the military, and also from
having been a lawyer in the federal court system. These are environments
in which people use the titles "Sir" and "Ma'am" constantly--not just
in talking with high ranking military officers, but also addressing
civilians.
I know that this doesn't work in every situation, but
using these titles can be a sign of respect that gets people's
attention. It can be important in professional relationships, especially
when dealing with people you don't know well, and who are older or more
experienced than you.
Words No. 3 and 4: "You're welcome."
Sometime
in fairly recent history it seems people stopped saying, "You're
welcome," and started substituting, "Yep," or, "No problem." At the risk
of sounding older than I am, I think this is a step in the wrong
direction--at least in a business or professional setting.
Why?
Because ditching "you're welcome" for these other phrases changes the
message. "You're welcome" acknowledges that you've done something worth
someone else's thanks, while "no problem" suggests that it wasn't that
big of a deal. Saying the former phrase conveys that you think it was a
worthwhile favor. That's an impressive message to send.
I was taught early to say Ma'am and Sir. If I didn't say these, I'd best be ducking. Because Mama had a backhand like John McEnroe.
ReplyDeleteI bet and we have this to be thankful to for our successful adulthood.
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