Do you say something to someone if they're being rude?

Rudeness isn’t illegal but costs plenty!

If you think it’s not your place to speak up when others exhibit rude behavior at work, think again.

A new study shows that rude employees cost companies millions in lost productivity. And the biggest offenders are managers. When employees think the boss isn’t civil, here’s what happens:

• 53% said they’ve lost hours of productivity sweating about “what will happen next time?”
• 46% considered changing jobs
• 37% say they feel less committed to their company, and
• 22% deliberately got even by cutting back their efforts.

Keeping your mouth shut and taking it seems the easy way out. But to get more positive results:

1. Repeat what was just said. For example, say, “Let me see if I understood you correctly. Did you mean to say … ?” Sometimes people don’t realize they’ve come across rude until they hear what they actually said.
2. Give people the benefit of the doubt. If they aren’t usually rude, assume they’re having a bad day. Consider taking a day to cool off before discussing the incident.
3. Steer the discussion toward solutions so you can work together for a more productive result.

Source: Christine Pearson, University of North Carolina, 919-962-3117

What do you have to get to be happy?

Like beauty, happiness is in the eye of the beholder. Since Happiness and Happening have the same derivative word, people who look to get their happiness from the things happening around them (that may or may not be out of their circle of influence) may not ever "get" what they need to be happy.

How do you make what you say "stick"?

Make what you say stick

Whenever possible, visually illustrate what you say with objects, charts and diagrams, handouts or pictures.

Research from the U.S. Public Health Service Audio Visual Facility found when people are taught by words alone, their immediate recall of the material is 70%. Three days later it’s just 10%.

But when people are told and shown information, immediate recall is 85%. Three days later it’s still 65%.

Source: Straight Answers to People Problems, by Fred Jandt. Published by Irwin Professional Publishing, 800-634-3966.