#532 silence

I try to patronize local businesses as much as possible, so tonight we had dinner at the local* Eagles Club for Pizza Night.  This is normally a members-only club, but they occasionally open their doors for local organizations to do fundraisers.  We have been there many times for Burger Night and the sponsors are always most appreciative of our business.

Tonight the Eagles themselves ran Pizza Night and it was a totally different atmosphere.  We were ignored at the bar for a several minutes before seeking out someone else to order the pizza.  It seemed like a burden to put in another order, and only after we had ordered and paid did she tell us it would "be awhile" since they were "behind".  Translated, that meant we should have left, but did not, and instead we waited an hour for our pie to arrive.  All evening I felt like an intrusion -- that we weren't welcome there even though they had advertised it publicly, and that we were a bother to serve.

All of this came not from anything that was said, but from what wasn't.  No greeting or welcome.  No apology for the delay.  No thank you or appreciation for supporting their organization.  It was striking to me how uncomfortable the silent treatment could be.

My takeaway (besides never to go to Pizza Night ever again):  pay attention to visitors and others with whom you interact.  A hello goes a long way in setting the tone.  An acknowledgement that you made the visitor/customer/client wait is important.  And a word of thanks is always welcome.  

Saying nothing is just as bad as saying the wrong thing.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com

@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

Note: the Asbury Eagles Club (not Dubuque)