Recently I was watching an episode of Oprah in the middle of the day. This is not my usual practice, but since breaking my ankle much of my routine has flown out the window. I tend to spend a lot of time during the day on the couch with my laptop leg elevated. When I need a break from the computer I do something else to divert my mind. Thus the watching of Oprah.
The emphasis for this particular show was, "Are you rude?" Immediately I thought, "No, I'm not rude."
Amazingly, this is how most people will react and yet the great majority of us think others are extremely rude.
Here a few indicators of rudeness.
Are you chronically late? Being late simply means we think our time is more important than that of the people we are making wait for us. Rude!
Do you answer emails while having a phone conversation? We may think we are being more productive but in reality we are not giving our full attention to either situation. Rude!
Do you answer your cell phone for a non-emergency call while having a conversation with someone else?
Think of how you feel when you are in the middle of a conversation and their cell phone rings. They motion to you they will only be a moment and several minutes later are still on the call. Maybe they are on the call for a brief moment. It doesn’t matter the length of time, it matters how it makes you feel.
You probably think (and feel) they are rude even though you don't tell them; you give a polite smile and say it's okay. Yet, your internal dialogue doesn't match your actions of approval.
Think about that feeling the next time you are having a conversation and your cell rings. Unless it's a bona fide emergency resist the temptation to answer because to do otherwise is rude.
Another indicator is how you treat those in the service industry; waiters, waitresses, housekeeping at hotels, the cleaning people for your office, or anyone who you may deem in a job that is less important than yours.
Do you treat them with respect or do you treat them with abruptness, a commanding nature and as if they should be happy to have a job?
If you do not treat them with the same respect you give your peers you are beyond a shadow of a doubt RUDE! Simple as that.
So ask yourself this, "Am I rude?" Before you answer this, think about what you just read. Did any of the questions give you reason for pause and you thought, "Hmmmm, I have done that."?
It is in awareness we are able to begin the process of change.
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