On my way to work this morning, I spotted a young turtle steadily making its way across a bustling road. Naturally, I swerved to avoid it, promptly turned my car around, halted traffic, and rescued the little fellow (or perhaps lady – how can you tell?). Heroic moment, yay!

People are incredibly impressionable, absorbing and processing the world around them on a daily basis. From the peculiar way a stranger sips their coffee to witnessing interactions that challenge our moral compass, these instances shape our perceptions.

These influential moments extend back to our early years in school. Teachers, gifted with insight, observe struggling students and skillfully guide them toward success. It's a remarkable process. Recently, I witnessed this magic during my son's music lesson. The teacher, much like an adept manager, identified a challenging segment and encouraged my son to choose a piece, fostering a sense of ownership. While he may not fully grasp it now, she knew how to motivate him to tackle the less enjoyable parts by focusing on the challenging areas of the pieces he liked.

However, many people only recognize the value of a good manager once they've moved on or when employees decide to seek new opportunities. Some individuals attribute their dissatisfaction to the company or manager, often labeled as having an "entitled" mindset. So, what's the solution? Reflect on the teacher's approach – instilling a sense of ownership to foster self-motivation. While this might not resonate immediately, it's a message that we absorb and process unconsciously over time.

Here are a couple of tips to learn from observation:

1. Positive Perspective: When encountering a teaching moment, try to process it positively. Consider what the manager is trying to teach and what you can take ownership of. Trust that there's a purpose to the methods and timelines.

2. Avoid Defensiveness: Some individuals resist taking direction, assuming they can do things better. Drop defensiveness and recognize that experience doesn't equate to doing things the same way. Be open to learning.

3. Seek Improvement: Identify areas for self-improvement. Request expectations tied to competency levels within a specific timeframe. This proactive approach helps you understand what to learn and how quickly.

Ultimately, you have a choice – play the blame game or be accountable to yourself. Blaming external factors won't change negative outcomes. Instead, view yourself as a battery, either recharging with new knowledge and skills or letting your energy drain away. Just like a drained battery, it's crucial to replace old habits with new ones. Don't let your professional energy fizzle out.

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Manners, a peculiar aspect of human behavior, often manifest differently in public than they do within the confines of our homes, despite our deep love for family. While we readily understand the principles of good manners and proper conduct, we often forgive ourselves when we fall short of these ideals. Nevertheless, the significance of manners extends across various facets of life, encompassing work, home, family, sports, leisure, and more. A fundamental principle guiding positive conduct is the golden rule: treat others as you wish to be treated.

In our line of work, interaction spans a spectrum, from the everyday individual to high-profile Business Leaders. Different personalities and varied treatment of others are observed. Good manners, however, transcend roles; they are ingrained in an individual's value system. Our approach is to treat everyone with the same level of respect and dignity that we expect for ourselves. Unfortunately, not everyone reciprocates. Ideally, a world where everyone plays nice in the sandbox would be delightful, but managing people over the years has taught me that negativity begets negativity.

When faced with negativity, each person has a choice – to let it affect their day positively or negatively. While unpleasant encounters can impact mood, they also present an opportunity to appreciate one's own positive nature, patience, and goodwill. Perhaps the other person is having a tough time or is not as fortunate. Regardless, as I tell my kids, you control yourself, not others. Each person can choose to rise above what they witness.

Here's some advice:

1. Avoid Workplace Arguments: Engaging in arguments, raising your voice, or acting defensively can harm your reputation or even lead to termination. Stay composed, act professionally, and embrace constructive criticism.

2. Pause and Reflect: Allow feedback or discussions to settle. Reacting impulsively based on emotion can be counterproductive. Take a moment to collect your thoughts.

3. Present a Plan:  Return with a well-thought-out action plan to address any issues. Articulate what you will do, how you will do it, and by when – all presented in a professional and courteous manner.

4. Agree to Disagree: If consensus proves elusive, it's okay. Politely agree to disagree, emphasizing your commitment to the company's best interests without souring the atmosphere. Accept that not every decision aligns with your perspective.

Manners go beyond polite phrases; they entail professional behavior in the workplace, applicable to both office and industrial settings. Dress code does not dictate professionalism; you can act professionally in any environment. A seasoned manager once advised me, "you never know who you're going to work for in the future," emphasizing the importance of not burning bridges with poor manners. Establish yourself as a professional, well-mannered individual, and regardless of being right or wrong, you'll foster better opportunities in the long run.