The Fine Art of Essence Expression a/k/a Playing Nice

Spon: www.cailorfleming.com/ https://chickfilasouthernpark.com/ https://www.hbkcpa.com/consultants/james-dascenzo/  Ps 18: I love you Lord, my strength.

As luck would have it, I happened to be working on a little sumthin’ sumthin’ at my day job this week as it relates to e-mail and telephone decorum.
 
Given our status of not being able to touch the other humans with a 10-foot pole these days, it seemed only fitting to shoot off a few reminders about how to co-speak professionally, respectfully, and well, just, well, in a nutshell.
 
Just your standard, regular old, what-we-oughta-be-doin’-as-a-rule-anyway kind of stuff. The fine art of essence expression, as it were. Things such as:
 
Essential E-Mail Etiquette:

• Include a clear subject matter.
• Use proper grammar always.
• Always use an appropriate/professional greeting and a signature block.
• Never send an e-mail generated out of emotion. Write but do not send it. Wait 24 hours then re-read and edit before hitting send.
• Be wary of using humor or colloquialism; this is easily misinterpreted.
• Consider the purpose of your email; does it NEED to be sent?
• It’s rarely useful/practical to REPLY ALL. Unless you’re a corporate communicator announcing a team-wide message – don’t REPLY ALL.
• Follow up in person when possible and appropriate. Answer all e-mail within 24 hours unless you are out of the office or otherwise unavailable.

 
--and---
 
Proper Phone Protocol:

• Speak clearly.
• Use your normal tone of voice.
• Do NOT eat or drink while on phone duty.
• Do NOT use slang or poor language/grammar.
• Address the caller properly and respectfully.
• Actively LISTEN to (silently!) to understand the caller’s key message or concern.
• Always be patient and helpful.
• Make sure your voice is smiling!

 
Now, at this writing, the second Presidential Debacle, oops, I mean, Debate, has yet to catch on fire. I’m sorry, again. I meant, transpire.
 
I’d love to fax, text, e-mail, phone-in, smoke signal, or otherwise shoot up a flare of my little decency reminders to President Trump and Vice President Biden. Seriously. Like, for reals.
 
But I don’t know that either side would welcome my talking points. In fact, I am fairly certain I’d have more luck getting preschoolers to adhere to them than these two ---and I’m going WAY, WAY out on a structurally unsound limb here— gentlemen.
 
So, I did a little digging and found the following Pre-K Classroom Rules that I think are equally applicable to: very small children just learning about life and very cranky old men vying to become the leader of the free pandemic world.
 
-Keep your hands to yourself. Indeed, six feet is not nearly far enough apart for this cantankerous couple.
-Cover your cough. Better still, maybe hold the entire event with masks on? That way, they’d spend the whole time going, “What did he say?”
-Be kind to each other. “Shut up.” “You’re stupid.” “He’s a clown.” Now, these are “no no” words; got it, mister?
-Listen to the teacher and take turns. To be clear, this doesn’t mean scream louder than your neighbor.
-Use your inside voice. What did I JUST say???
 
Even though I don’t know how it went; I can take a wild guess there were no bumped fists or air kisses, Capisce?
 
For the last time, you two, knock it off or you’re both headed to the corner … on a carpet square and seated crisscross applesauce. Good luck campaigning in the pretzel position, Grumpy Guses!
 
Kimerer is a columnist who just wants a little more nice …and nap time. Visit her via www.patriciakimerer.com

---