I have just returned to the UK after driving down to the South of France and back. The French have a great set of autoroutes with plenty of "Aires" to stop in and a channel on FM107.7 that keeps you up to date with traffic news.
What did strike me was how it helps if other drivers are courteous and let you out if, for example, you get stuck in the slow lane behind a lorry. Not everybody does, but some will and it reminded me that such good behaviour begets more. If a driver lets you out then you are more likely to do the same yourself.
And the absence of common courtesy can be damaging. I recall a professor at Harvard Business School citing the example of a boss who has too much on their mind and walks past a subordinate on the way to the coffee machine without saying hallo or acknowledging them. They immediately tend to fear the worst and think their boss has a bad impression of them or their work. In fact they are probably far from their manager's mind, but the damage is done.
The French are much better at these common courtesies saying "Bonjour" whenever they meet colleagues or friends and often shaking hands first thing in the morning when they arrive in the office.
Common courtesy goes a long way not only on the roads but also in the workplace. Nothing is lost by politeness and a lot can be gained. Apart from anything else it breeds more courtesy and makes the office a better place to be.
What did strike me was how it helps if other drivers are courteous and let you out if, for example, you get stuck in the slow lane behind a lorry. Not everybody does, but some will and it reminded me that such good behaviour begets more. If a driver lets you out then you are more likely to do the same yourself.
And the absence of common courtesy can be damaging. I recall a professor at Harvard Business School citing the example of a boss who has too much on their mind and walks past a subordinate on the way to the coffee machine without saying hallo or acknowledging them. They immediately tend to fear the worst and think their boss has a bad impression of them or their work. In fact they are probably far from their manager's mind, but the damage is done.
The French are much better at these common courtesies saying "Bonjour" whenever they meet colleagues or friends and often shaking hands first thing in the morning when they arrive in the office.
Common courtesy goes a long way not only on the roads but also in the workplace. Nothing is lost by politeness and a lot can be gained. Apart from anything else it breeds more courtesy and makes the office a better place to be.
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