Saying Hello

[qos]

A couple of mornings ago I was walking out of the parking lot toward my office when I recognized the CEO of the company driving in. He was talking on his cell phone as he stopped to wave his badge at the automatic gate. I have this thing about always looking at the people in cars as they pass in the parking lot, in case I recognize him, and it so happened that even though he was driving and talking, he also looked up and past the gate sensor and saw me.

Our eyes met, I smiled, and he gave me a great smile at about the same moment, and a half-wave with his badge.

I've spoken with this man once, a year ago. He probably wouldn't remember my name. He might or might not recognize me if we ran into each other elsewhere, but probably not. But I felt like he really saw me and gave as much of a genuine greeting as he could under the circumstances.

When I got into the building, I greeted and was greeted by our security guards, and then exchanged cheerful good mornings with one of the new guys in the mail room who delivers on my floor.

And I went on to my desk in an excellent mood, feeling very good about the company I work for, about the great people I work with.

It was several days before I realized that I and my own attitude had been as much a key factor in the greetings and smiles as the people around me. And that was kind of a nice thought.



You sure can learn a lot about a person simply from how they say, "Hi" everyday, huh, QoS?

And they can learn a lot about you.

Isn't that special?
The Universe

Comments

[toesontheground.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that your friendly smiles and hellos have been and are being appreciated - it's a simple nice thing to put into the world. And who knows what ripples come from that?

re. the CEO - it feels like there's a lot of the eager to please and achieve approval good girl in you still sometimes.

[qos.livejournal.com]

I take exception to your final comment here, my friend.

I didn't smile at the CEO because I was trying to please. He has always come across to me as a genuinely nice person, and what I know of him I like. My smile was no more an attempt to "please" him than was my smile at the mail clerk.

Perhaps you may be a tad cynical about CEO's and their ability to inspire an honest smile?

Cynical, moi?

[toesontheground.livejournal.com]

Just a tad :,)

Re: Cynical, moi?

[qos.livejournal.com]

I learned at lunch yesterday that after Katrina and Rita, my cell phone company shared the gasoline we had collected for our own generators with our competition so they could keep their network towers up too, so that as many people as possible would be able to use their cell phones. We offered free wireless internet throughout the affected areas, and kept adding $50 credits to the prepaid accounts of people in the area as they reached the end of their time/money so that they wouldn't be left in a lurch.

I figure he's a CEO who rates a smile. ;-)

Re: Cynical, moi?

[toesontheground.livejournal.com]

Oh okay, I'll believe you :) That does sound generous.