#bthatguy

[bthatguy]

SOFT SKILLS 2

My first recollection of meeting someone “important” was when I was a small boy.  I couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8 years old and I went into my Dad’s office with him on a Saturday morning.  I was sitting in his office scribbling on a pad when my Dad’s boss walked in.  They exchanged pleasantries and my Dad introduced me to his boss.  Again, I’m 7 or 8 so I did not make eye contact and just meekly said hi.  My Dad grinned and said you can do better than that.  Stand up, look the man in the eye and shake his hand.  Introduce yourself.  Begrudgingly I did just that.  I stood up from my important scribble, looked at the man (who by the way was about 6’2 and 300 pounds (a giant in my world)) and I stuck my hand out and announced my name.  He shook my hand with his grizzly bear size hand and replied that it was a pleasure to meet me.  He said my Dad speaks of me often and was pleased to make my acquaintance.  I don’t know how large my chest swelled that day, but I felt important.  This giant, my Dad’s BOSS is talking to me like another man.  That stuck with me for a lifetime.  I can honestly say from that day forward I honed my hand shaking skills.  I learned to shake hands firmly.  I learned to never stay seated when you shake someone’s hand (assuming there is not a reason you cannot stand).  I learned to stand, look them straight in the eye, smile and firmly (not over aggressive) but firmly shake their hand.  Nobody likes a “dead fish” for a hand shake.

[bthatguy]

SOFT SKILLS 1

So, I was very fortunate as a young boy to have various people (parents, family, friends, coaches, teachers, the list goes on) invest in my education and well being. I’m not just talking about education as it pertains to reading / writing / math, but skills that I worry may be getting lost on later generations. Simple things like etiquette, manners, how to be a gentleman or lady. These are skills that have to be taught and learned. For example, as a young man growing up in the south it was important to address people older than I was as sir and ma’am or Mister, Misses or Miss unless I was given permission to address them otherwise. Even then it was frowned upon and considered somewhat disrespectful. Did that make me less of a person to “respect my elders”? No, it did not. It showed respect to those who were older and had earned it and it showed a young man being taught properly how to address people. It was considered proper etiquette and good manners. Even as an adult today, I address people who are older or I perceive as older with yes sir and no sir, yes ma’am and no ma’am and I see the gleam in their eye of still having been addressed with respect. Be That Guy!