tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10983268.post5849071263636224129..comments2023-09-06T06:13:52.107-05:00Comments on Unequivocally Moe: R-E-S-P-E-C-T~moe~http://www.blogger.com/profile/10541964562545172837noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10983268.post-526799964487341972009-02-16T13:28:00.000-06:002009-02-16T13:28:00.000-06:00Respect goes both ways. You have to give it to get...Respect goes both ways. You have to give it to get it.<BR/><BR/>While I'm on a first-name basis with my co-workers, things don't need to be so personal. I don't mind being collegial, but I'd prefer people to realize we're at work, working together, not meant to be BFF. <BR/><BR/>There's also a strange dichotomy between older folks (60+) and "younger" folks (ahem, 38 and below!)<BR/><BR/>Case in point: my boss came up to me two weeks ago, thanked me for doing a good job and "being a good kid."<BR/><BR/>I like my boss; he's a nice man. But I am not his child. (PS: I am 29 years old).<BR/><BR/>So, I told him that while I appreciated his sentiment, I'd prefer to be a good co-worker or colleague, not a good "kid". I felt like a complete ass, but also completely patronized at the same time. <BR/><BR/>This kind of stuff goes on all the time, just recently another co-worker told me she didn't think Drew was old enough to grow a beard. He's 31!!M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12757475703469466839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10983268.post-10703297876374076592009-02-15T12:54:00.000-06:002009-02-15T12:54:00.000-06:00This post comes with interesting timing. On my re...This post comes with interesting timing. On my recent trip, we had some days in our work clothes (both formal and everyday), and some days in our personal clothes (both formal and everyday).<BR/><BR/>We were specifically instructed that for the purposes of this trip, if we were in personal clothes, first names were to be used, regardless of position on the org chart (and we had all levels represented).<BR/><BR/>The trip organizers really wanted us to get comfortable with each other to facilitate thinking outside the box and outside our station. The focus, for this conference at least, was on fostering ideas, not who's <I>allowed</I> to have them, or who they're <I>supposed</I> to channel them through. For someone like me, who's pretty low on the totem pole, it really did make it easier for me to throw out my own ideas and critique others' without trepidation.<BR/><BR/>As you can imagine, though, there were some people who I just couldn't bring myself to call by their first names, either because they were so high up the hierarchy, or because I work for people who work for them. In those cases, I manged to avoid using their name at all... maybe just a "yes sir, but... " or something along those lines.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I tend to prefer the formal use of title and name, since, if nothing else, it's consistent. I think that each inter-personal relationship can have its own dynamic, so it's entirely possible for some people to use first names without losing the element of respect. Since that's not always the case, though, a standard protocol helps ensure there's never any doubt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10983268.post-86637318897562167462009-02-14T23:02:00.000-06:002009-02-14T23:02:00.000-06:00I have had those moments... I want to call my frie...I have had those moments... I want to call my friend's mom "Mrs. Smith", but who does that? lol. Still, especially with older folks, or people of some station, it seems appropriate.<BR/><BR/>I went to traffic court for a ticket and waited for an hour or so, listening to everyone else speak to the judge. I was appalled at how casually they addressed him. I was the first one that day to call him, "Sir". "Yes, sir." "Thank you, Sir." A few people chuckled, but I was sincere. I was also the first one to get off with a warning. I think he appreciated the respect, pity it wasn't the norm.KJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08490843203917062841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10983268.post-8746694429039414612009-02-14T16:26:00.000-06:002009-02-14T16:26:00.000-06:00I have a friend who I run with regularly, but she...I have a friend who I run with regularly, but she is also my chiropractor. I have a hard time calling her "Dr. XXX" at the office as opposed to her first name, but I try to out of respect for her position and for the people that work for her and call her "Dr.". <BR/><BR/>But you're right, the world has changed in such a way where it seems like titles and respect aren't given much though.<BR/><BR/>And I don't even want to get into the "young whippernsappers" moment I had this week with my neighbors and their clothes. Ugh... :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com