It’s About People

Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person he or she knows and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people he or she knows, then everyone is an average of six "steps" away from each person on Earth. The modern world is shrinking due to this ever-increasing connectedness of human beings. In a “small world,” our actions resonate in wide social and professional circles, broadcasting our persona for all to see.

Mindful of this phenomena, consider the advice of Lillian Eichler Watson “Don't reserve your best behavior for special occasions. You can't have two sets of manners, two social codes - one for those you admire and want to impress, another for those whom you consider unimportant. You must be the same to all people.”

Good business etiquette is about being on your best behavior and treating people as you appreciate being treated.

Stay employed and protect your professional reputation with these best practices:

• Be courteous and thoughtful to the people around you, in all professional environments—within your own organization, out in the marketplace, and even when encountering competitors
• Consider other people’s feelings, stick to your convictions as diplomatically as possible
• Talk and visit with people, regardless of their position or standing—remember what you can about people and to be thoughtful
• If you show respect and courtesy to everyone, you avoid discomfort or damaging your chances in any unexpected turn of events like a merger, acquisition or consolidation that brings together people in unforeseen ways
• Speak well of superiors within and outside the company, and give your leaders the benefit of the doubt—never surprise your boss or take her or her off guard
• In foreign or unfamiliar surroundings, be considerate and express an interest in learning—if in doubt, err on the conservative, formal side
• Don’t interrupt meetings or work sessions with telephone calls, use of electronic devices or ducking out—thank meeting attendants, and when attending meetings offer thanks to the organizer
• Always return calls; with email, remember that you’re communicating with a person, not a computer
• Look after new people and visiting workers—be sure that person has the resources and information that he or she needs to do the job
• Pass along credit and compliments—speak well of your coworkers and always point out their accomplishments
• Arrive on time and don’t overstay your welcome
• Because people make so many assumptions about you based on your image, it's important to think about whom you want them to think you are and dress accordingly
• Lying to and gossiping with people is never acceptable—inflammatory or disrespectful electronic communication can resurface and is best never written
• Poor etiquette loses the sale—speak only kindly to, and with respect to, prospects and clients—comments spoken behind the backs of clientele have a way of coming back around

Work, Success and Charity

Many successful working professionals in better-than-average circumstances believe in shared social responsibility to try to help people in need directly. Some have genuine passion to help because of a personal connection to a cause. Most, at the very least, feel good about helping others. My own social convictions correspond with these sentiments. Regrettably, time to be had to do so often stands in the way of getting personally involved.

The American Time Use Study released June 2007 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures the entire population to report the overall distribution of time allocation for society as a whole.

Americans reported that they spend, on average, .13 hours per day dedicated to volunteering (organizational and civic activities). Some of the many reasons for that small measure of time are as follows:

Employed persons worked 7.6 hours on average on the days that they worked—multiple jobholders were about twice as likely to work on an average weekend day as were single jobholders

On an average day, 84 percent of women and 64 percent of men spent 2.2 hours doing household activities, such as housework, cooking, lawn care, or financial and other household management

Adults living in households with children spent 0.8 – 2.0 hours providing primary childcare

People spent, on average, 9.21 hours with personal care activities including sleeping, bathing, dressing, health-related self-care, and personal or private activities

On an average day, nearly everyone age engaged in 5.5 hours of leisure activity, such as watching TV, socializing, or exercising

For those engaged in the labors of work to sustain and better personal and family circumstances, time is indeed precious. To alleviate a guilty conscience respecting community involvement, many elect to give money as an alternative to dedicating “free” time. As reported by the U.S. Census 2000, contributing households donated 2% of personal income to qualified organizations or for out of pocket expenses serving as a volunteer—far less than the 10% ideal standard set by tithing doctrines. Determining the right amount to give is an individual decision as charity by definition is a “gift.” Opinions differ as to how much to give, and whether it is better to give money or volunteer time.

If, however, you are an employees, employer or entrepreneur—take comfort, as it may be argued that work, in and of itself, reconciles disparity with respect to volunteering and contributing. Economic growth caused by capitalism has done considerably more to alleviate poverty and advance standards of living than all government, philanthropy and aid programs combined. It is likely markets will continue to do this for a long time. Increase in the production of goods and services over time is often used as a measure of increased material well-being of the citizenry generated through economic activity.

The beauty of capitalism is that it accomplishes aggregate good through what can be thought of as selfish motives. But it does not put an end to the debate as to the duty for those of us in better circumstances to try to help people and the community directly. Because capitalism and policies that promote them will not take care of everything, charity is neither a waste of time nor money.