Office Courtesy : Meeting the Public (1952)

when you work in an office meeting the public whether it's in person or by telephone is an important part of your job it can be pleasant like this or it can be like this no just got here godly you look tired don't you feel well darling I feel terrible what's the matter you sick no it isn't that I decided to quit my job what happened is that your boss no you know I like him well then the company no the company's all right it isn't that and it's the people that come into the office they're so rude and inconsiderate it does not that i can take day in and day out why meeting people the thing I like most about my job I think it's fun having you people come into the office all the time the water's boiling it was as simple as that for ruth meaning the public was pleasant because she enjoyed people and greeted them with a smile for Barbara meeting the public was tiresome and unpleasant because her attitude was cold and uncooperative sometimes even antagonistic you know when I first started I felt like you do barb but I found out how wrong I was what do you mean I found out it wasn't really the other people I was seeing through the reflection of myself I was cross with them they were cross with me it's not as simple as all there you'd be surprised that's all no but if you're nice to people they're usually nice to you too well the people in my office are different and I'm simply not going to stand for it any longer you're tired now barb I know just how you feel let's talk about it again later on it's no use roots really I've made up my mind i'm going to start looking for a job tomorrow look at the table oh here I'll do it everything else is ready why don't you go in and sit down and rest for a few minutes mmm thanks I think I will if you really don't mind what you need is some good hot food in you but make you feel better not that i know i'm tired but it's more than that a reflection of myself i don't see how it could be after all what do they expect I've got my work to do I can't stop and pass the time of day with every person who wants to strike up a conversation it isn't my attitude that's wrong but the people who come into that office I'm going to look for another child how much longer are we going to have to wait mr. Franklin is a busy man you can't expect to walk right in on him and get choked up at that secretary forgotten word heater look at all the other people where do you see that man he's one of mr. Thompson's biggest customer I have an appointment with mr. Franklin trip like that yeah do you well I doubt if you'll be able to see you at all I see she brushing him off until we run my body I bet his shabby clothes have a food I we should answer that telephone but they still know that they have a blame come to think of it I let it rain often enough myself hello yes whoo yes this is mr. Franklin's office no you're busy No no I don't know who's in charge back oh yes I suppose so I walk to save 405 90 95 well with you up at 59 or 950 all right yeah I see mr. Franklin please what did you want to see him about I'd like to discuss that with him if I may isn't about a job no I represent the bragdon company you selling insurance we're one of your company suppliers well I'll see if he'll see you she should really find out what his business in but not like that she should do it tactfully well I guess those questions were kind of blunt did you think she know the bragging company is mr. Franklin given Ben he isn't I said he isn't in thank you he never man but then why does she got me sitting here waiting man I was if she told that sorry to wake your bar it is ready that's all right I'm just having a nightmare anyway son i smear I hope it wasn't too gruesome tell me yeah no you know what you said before about seeing the reflection of ourselves yeah well i think i'm going to try it that's fine barb I know you'll find that if you're nice to people they're usually nice to you too now how about some dinner I didn't realize I was so hungry in the days that followed Barbara did her best to acquire a genuine interest in people where she found that smiles are effective only from their genuine she carefully practiced the first basic rule in meeting the public remembering and using name oh yes mr. Borden I'm sure that mr. Thompson will be glad to see you of course mr. Farnsworth i'm sorry mr. Pratt she formed the habit of tactfully getting the name and business of every visitor and of introducing him in a pleasant gracious men mr. Thompson this is mr. Markham of Allied manufacturing company she learned to anticipate mr. Thompson's need and they have ready foreign material he might require during an interview when it became necessary to interrupt an interview with information for mr. Thompson Barbara wrote out the message it wasn't all easy she made some mistakes in court she learned to that it's a mistake to argue with visitor you you have an appointment mr. Thompson should be with you in just a few laps with your mind waiting over there different kinds of situations came up Barbara discovered the proper way to handle them one of these was the inquisitive collar or expose you girls managed to keep busy yeah there's always enough work to do as a rumor that the firm closed the big deal with marshland company is that though yes the five-year contract know anything about it I can't say that I do however if you'd like to see mr. Walker that's perfectly all right it's not that important yes Barbara learn to be on guard against the visitor who has too many questions to handle him tactfully but firmly she learned how to turn away a visitor firmly without making an enemy of him can I make an appointment now for some time next week any time i'm free anytime perhaps i can phone you when an appointment would be more convenient i have your number well alright that's fine thank you thank you she learned good telephone a nerd like answering promptly using the caller's name mr. Thompson bratha yes certainly mr. hunt and getting the message right she got into the habit of keeping the waiting visitor informed so that he know he wasn't forgotten mr. Thompson will see you very soon mr. Greenleaf and of course she became more conscious than ever of the importance of neat simple clothing in the office above all what Barbara acquired in the days that followed was a real understanding and liking of people she found that smiles are contagious the courtesy baguettes courtesy and because of her changed attitude the duties which had once been a nightmare for her became instead the pleasant and exciting experience of meeting the public you