Passive Vs. Polite

"Be as polite to the custodian as you are to the chairman of the board." 

~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

American author best known for his inspirational book, Life's Little Instruction Book, which was a New York Times bestseller. 

(b.1940)

Being kind is not being soft.
Being thoughtful is not being indifferent.
And, being polite is not being passive.

Passive people are not yes-people or no-people, they are under-the-radar-people. Passive people don't step up, speak up, or rev up.

Polite people say yes. Polite people say no (and no, thank you). Polite people are on the radar, and they step up, speak up, and yes, they get revved up!

The difference in the passive person and the polite person is a combination of appreciation, learning, respect, belief, confidence and presence. Sometimes, when polite people are misunderstood, they get called passive, when they are assessing, considering, gaining information, and being thoughtful...and even kind in thinking about his/her approach.

Once the polite person has his/her position, the politeness becomes present through the body language and words. With openness and words that demonstrate consideration and professionalism, the thoughtfulness of intent becomes a result of respect and thoroughness.

So, if you are ever tempted to wait and wait, instead, wait, see, and share. You are not passive, afterall, and you are kind and thoughtful. With that, you are not soft or indifferent...you are polite!

Meeting Invites - Demystified

Meetings are a way of life!
Often people send me meeting invitations, and a surprising number of them look like this:

Subject: Meeting with Debbie Lundberg

Location: My Office

Seriously? If I accept this invitation, it goes on my calendar as: Meeting with Debbie Lundberg at My Office. That means absolutely nothing to me!
When sending an invitation, think of the recipient and not just yourself. Instead of the other person's name, please include both names, or the name of the company or group, and the actual location (with address, preferred if inviting people outside your company). The same invitation would read as:

Subject: Meeting: Steve Smith and Debbie Lundberg

Location: XYZ Company (123 W. South Street, Oakland, CA)

Additionally, including an agenda and notes on what is expected from each attendee, are terrific, too! By including minimally all involved, and the actual physical location, you will make a calendar invite that works, and is useful, on everyone's calendar!