positively polite

What is the polite way to express what you need--and get it without attitude (or overly gratuitous empty words).

There are few times where I feel like a wanted and needed customer. My interaction with service industry folks typically begin on a positive note. Yet more often than not, it ends up an unsatisfactory conclusion. Not so much that I don't get what I need, but the debate and the near arm wrestling that occurs leaves me cold.

One ticket exchange comes to mind, where just a few words would have diffused the whole situation. Lisa and I have Mn Orchestra tickets for a series of concerts. These tickets were purchased separately and at every event we would get in the will call line and exchange them for a pair seated together. With no charge. At the last event we did the same thing, only to be told that there is a fee for any ticket exchange. I explained about the prior free exchanges and the manager insisted there has always been a fee, and if we wanted seats together we'd have to pay. Back and forth, back and forth, only to finally find out there is no fee if you "downgrade" your ticket. Which had been the case in our prior exchanges. And it had only been a matter of two of three rows nearer the orchestra--which is what we prefer!

We left the ticket area with a new pair of tickets, but feeling incredulous about how a simple sentence would have saved everyone time and frustration!

"I can exchange these tickets for ones in area B for no fee, or in area A for $10."

Done deal. Everybody is happy.

Simple.

The words we choose to say--or NOT say-- are powerful. It really does matter in our daily lives. Choose the words that will create calm happiness and goodness all around.



Quote from Marie Curie;

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and ...confidence in ourselves."


Speak well.