These easy, fun ways to share tips, ideas, skills and techniques will help you. By Nancy Friedman

These easy, fun ways to share tips, ideas, skills and techniques will help you.

Good Manners. Certainly ‘please,’ ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome’ are high on the list. Usually not forgotten; however, often ‘no problem’ steps in for ‘you’re welcome.’ No problem is a big problem. Stick with ‘you’re welcome.’ Much more welcome.

Women tend to notice good manners perhaps more than men. Not sure, just seems like it. We like please, thank you, and you’re welcome; however, those are only a few. It is the other manners we like as well. The one where the gentleman stands up when the lady comes in the room or to a table. The person that makes eye contact rather than spinning their head around to see who is watching them. Good manners are an essential and important part relationship mentality/building.

Hi, how are you? Hogwash. There are tons of other rapport building statements at the beginning of a conversation. All have more meaning than “Hi, how are you?” Any one of these are 100% better than: “Great to see you,” “Glad I ran into you,” “Good to talk with you.” The list is endless of alternative greetings. “Hi, how are you?” is slang and useless.

‘I’ statements do not help build relationships. Every time you start a sentence with ‘me this’ or ‘I that,’ it can easily become an irritant. When you can, use “we statements.” It is much more credible. Or use the company name. Example: “At Telephone Doctor we believe relationships start at the beginning of the conversation.” And especially when writing an email. Starting each paragraph with the word “I” is not healthy. And at best, usually not needed.

Stay tuned: J. K and L are coming up next month.

Nancy Friedman, the founder and chairman of Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training, is a popular keynote customer service speaker at franchise, corporate meetings, and conferences around the country. She is now offering and specializing in VIRTUAL ZOOM programs and her fun WEBINARS. nancyfriedman.com, nancy@telephonedoctor.com, 314-291-1012.