Is assuming good manners too high starting point?

Getting material together for the “managing the training process course”, a couple of things struck us.

Well first of all, a good manager should know what level to pitch the training and what prior knowledge trainees have or need.

This usually jumps to technical skills or other knowledge required to do the job.

But is that too high a starting point?

Going to an event at our local school recently, something struck me.

This is what happened.

Entering the double doors the other way was a young lady, aged about 14. She had a backpack on her back, a hockey stick in a case in one hand and a musical instrument in a case in the other.

I held the door open for her and she looked up, smiled and said “thank you”.

Now the youth of today often get maligned as rude, slobby layabouts but the funny thing was that this young lady even (despite having both arms full) made sure the door was then open for me – even though I had nothing in my hands…

I told this story to a colleague who reported that she was carrying an arm full of books into the school for an event and two older sixth form type boys held the door for her.

I was interested in this and in passing the time of day with one of the teachers, he said that the school has a strict “politeness policy” with please & thank you’s expected all around.

They assume nothing and each child regardless of background and upbringing is given exactly the same army like induction on joining the school. A sort of please & thank you bootcamp.

The point was that the school assumed no prior knowledge and gave all trainees (pupils) exactly the same training and what was expected of them to meet the required standard.