Office Courtesy : Meeting the Public (1952)

[Music] when you work in an office meeting the public whether it's in person or by telephone is an important part of your job it can be pleasant like [Music] this or it can be like [Music] this r that home long no just got here golly you look tired don't you feel well Barbara I feel terrible what's the matter you sick no it isn't that I've decided to quit my job oh what happened is it your boy oh no you know I like him well then the company no the company's all right it isn't that it's it's the people that commend of the office they're so rude and inconsiderate it's just more than I can take day in and day out while meeting people is the thing I like most about my job I think it's fun having new people come into the office all the time oh the water's boiling it was as simple as that for Ruth meeting the public was pleasant because she enjoyed people and greeted them with a smile for Barbara meeting the public was tiresome and unpleasant because her attitude was cold and uncooperative sometimes even antagonistic you know when I first started I felt like you do Barb but I found out how wrong I was what do you mean I found out it wasn't really the other people I was seeing it was a reflection of myself I was cross with them they were cross with me oh it's not as simple as all that you'd be surprised I found out that if you're nice to people they're usually nice to you too well the people in my office are different and I'm simply not going to stand for it any longer you're tired now Barb I know just how you feel let's talk about it again later on it's no use Ruth really I've made up my mind I'm going to start looking for a job tomorrow I'll got the table oh here I'll do it everything else is ready why don't you go in and sit down and rest for a few minutes well thanks I think I will if you really don't mind what you need is some good hot food in you to make you feel better oh it's not that R I know I'm tired but it's more than that a reflection of myself I don't see how it could be after all what do they expect I've got my work to do I can't stop and pass the time of day with every person who wants to strike up a conversation it isn't my attitude that's wrong it's the people who come into that office I'm going to look for another [Music] job [Music] how much longer are we going to have to wait sh Mr Franklin's a busy man you can't expect to walk right in on him and get a job I bet that secretary's forgotten we're here look at all the other people waiting you see that man he's one of Mr Thompson's biggest customers I have an appointment with Mr Franklin dressed like that yeah do you well I doubt if he'll be able to see you at all I see she's brushing him off as though he were a nobody I guess his shabby clothes have a [Music] fool I wish he'd answer that telephone it makes me nervous they have it rain I'll come to think of it I let it ring often enough myself hello yes who yes this is Mr Franklin's office no he's busy no no I don't know who's in charge of that oh yes I suppose so if you want to State [Music] 4059 oh 95 well which is it 59 or 95 oh all right yes I see Mr Franklin please what did you want to see him about I'd like to discuss that with him if I may is it about a job no I represent the bragon company you selling Insurance we're one of your company's suppliers well I'll see if he'll see you she should really find out what his business is but not like that she should do it tactfully well I guess those questions were kind of blunt and you'd think she'd know who the bragon company is Mr Franklin isn't in he isn't I said he isn't in thank you he isn't in well then why has she got me sitting here waiting them I don't think she told that man the truth well I'm going find out whether she told the truth or not wa just minute young lady Miss [Music] [Applause] [Music] Miss sorry to wake you you Barb dinner's ready oh that's all right I was having a nightmare anyway a nightmare I hope it wasn't too gruesome help me yeah Ru you know what you said before about seeing the reflection of ourselves yeah well I think I'm going to try it that's fine Barb I know you'll find that if you're nice to people they're usually nice to you too now how about some dinner gee I didn't realize I was so hungry hungry in the days that followed Barbara did her best to acquire a genuine interest in people for she found that smiles are effective only when they're genuine she carefully practiced the first basic rule in meeting the public remembering and using names oh yes Mr bordon I'm sure that Mr Thompson will be glad to see you of course Mr farnworth I'm sorry Mr Pratt she formed the habit of tactfully getting the name and business of every visitor and of introducing him in a pleasant gracious manner Mr Thompson this is Mr Markham of Allied manufacturing company she learned to anticipate Mr Thompson's needs and have ready for him material he might require during an interview when it became necessary to interrupt an interview with information from Mr Thompson Barbara wrote out the message it wasn't all easy she made some mistakes of [Applause] [Music] course she learned too that it's a mistake to argue with [Music] visitors you have an appointment at 10:30 Mr Thompson should be with you in just a few minutes would you mind waiting over there there as different kinds of situations came up Barbara discovered the proper way to handle them one of these was the inquisitive caller well I suppose you girls manage to keep busy yes there's always enough work to do there's a rumor that the firm closed a big deal with marshman company is that so yes a 5-year contract know anything about it I can't say that I do however if you'd like to see Mr Walker they no it's perfectly all right it's not that important yes Barbara learned to be on guard against the visitor who asks too many questions to handle him tactfully but [Music] firmly she learned how to turn away a visitor firmly without making an enemy of him can I make an appointment now for some time next week anytime I'm free anytime well perhaps I can phone you when an appointment would be more convenient I have your number well all right that's fine thank you thank you she learned good telephone matters like answering promptly using the caller's name Mr Thompson's office yes certainly Mr Hunt and getting the message right she got into the habit of keeping a waiting visitor informed so that he know he wasn't forgotten Mr Thompson will see you very soon Mr Green Leaf oh thank you and of course she became more conscious than ever of the importance of neat simple clothing in the office above all what Barbara acquired in the days that followed was a real understanding and liking of people she found that smiles are contagious that courtesy begets courtesy and because of her changed attitude the duties which had once been a nightmare for her became instead the pleasant and exciting experience of meeting the public