A young executive exits from home, with numerous e-documents developed
overnight, to start the familiar commute to work. Managing to avoid hazardous
break-ankle holds in the crowded walk path. On time to board a crowded bus. Safely
enters that destination skyscraper, with lines of security. Travels up an
elevator to the executive floors, turns right into a suite of offices. Finally,
reaches that prestigious corner office and drops stuff on the clear desk.
Swings into the very large adjacent executive suite to meet one person, comfortably
positioned behind a boardroom table, reading the latest news, and cheerfully says,
“Good Morning!”
This is the person that will sign the next
performance review. The person that controls the next promotion, the next raise,
the next step up the corporate ladder. This is the person that provides food
and healthcare, shelter and entertainment for families. And this person’s reply
is a grunt! Not, how are you? Or, is everything ok? A grunt! “I hope you did
not spend all night working?” “Did anyone fix those holds in your walk path, I
often hear you complain about?” “How was that bus ride, any new conversations?”
“Security getting any quicker?” No, just an impulsive Grunt!
But did this young executive ever think to call the
authorities about those hazardous break-ankle holds or speak to anyone else
using the same walk path? Has this young executive, taking the same bus ride
for years, ever started a conversation with anyone on the bus? Does this young
executive know the names or rotations of the building’s security officers? Or
the names of other workers in the building as shoulders rub in an elevator or
on passing persons’ workstations? Starting with the same, “Good Morning!” “How
are you this morning?” to the many persons encountered on the daily commute.
Manners has been taught by mostly example throughout
society, from early childhood education to universities and colleges, but has
been morphed into a profit-making tool. Expert frontline staff are well trained
to be mannerly, to benefit an operation. And professional organizations offer
such human resource training that would teach this young executive to follow-up
the “Good Morning!” quickly with something like, “Here is the work I finished
up last night, please, before it gets busy, can I have your comments?” ignoring
the Grunt and engaging in profitable processes. This way manners becomes
purposeful, instead of a caring decent social habit.
Rear-View Mirror Manners is: Hi boss how was your night
and waiting patiently, for whatever comes after the grunt. Greeting and
engaging co-workers and acquaintances along a regular commute, if only to say
“Hi.” Attending farewells and remembrances for persons who everyday cross paths
and wishing to have done these mannerly things before the disaster occurred,
claiming so many lives. Manners is not for profit to get something from
somebody, it is that which binds or latches a society together in daily
pursuits. Many of us live life in the Rear-View Mirror when we could be
Pleasant in the Present, here and now!
Rationale
T.A.J
& Associates Company Limited
uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically
and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment
opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
