Lack of Common Courtesy!

When I grew up... I was taught that if someone sent you a letter, or called you on the telephone, you would respond, because it was the "just common courtesy".

Today we live in a world of CONTINUOUS interaction... we have email, cell phones, call waiting and so on.... we even have machines that tell you " your call is very important to us", but then either puts you on a waiting list or prescribes ways to avoid waiting...

This is one of the "fatal flaws" of our society... I call it "virtual response"... that is it really is not a response or interest in people at all, but the pretense we really care.

All generations are involved.... you can call your peer age group and get the same response...they may look at the phone ID and say it can wait, or it is not important... you can call your classmates, friends, former associates and get the same "lack of response"...Many have accepted that the fact that you don't want to speak to someone it is okay.

During most of my career, I have had the good fortune of dealing with people who had "real people answer their business phones, or who would personally pick the phone or answer their letters or emails... They demonstrated interest...even if their message was not what I wanted to hear.

I have many notes from CEOs who personally responded...Jack Welch was the best at this since he would personally write notes in his own handwriting and tell you what he thought, even if it was not positive.

His successor is not like this... you write him a note and you don't even get an acknowledgement.

When I published my latest book: "The Secret to GE's Success" I sent our several dozens of books to individuals that have a STAKE in GE and though I didn't expect them to endorse the book, I did expect a THANK YOU.... only a few showed common courtesy...

When I grew up I was taught to say thank you... even if it was just some one opening the door, or giving me some information and especially if they had the courtesy to send me something for nothing.

The combination of "lack of common sense" and a "lack of courtesy" (which I discussed last week in by blog)... could partially explain why the United States, and other developed and developing nations are having trouble anticipating and dealing with key issues, like the recession, the greed in corporate and governmental offices and the so called "War On Terror".. we are too busy passing the blame and not talking to each other...

I recognize that it is wrong to have simple answers...but often it is the simplicity that helps identify, specify and solve very complex problems.

Bill Rothschild