Kev Kennedy's Blog

The real you

I was once given a very sage piece of advice. If you're out being wined and dined (chance would be a fine thing) and the person you are with is trying to impress you, there is one genuine giveaway clue about that person that will always, without fail, tell you what you really need to know about the person.

It's true if you're on a date. It's really true in a business setting.

Never rate the person you're eating with on how nice they are to you.

Rate them on how nice they are to the waiter or waitress.

Do they treat them with disdain? Do they mutter impatiently under their breath? Do they say please and thank you at all? Do they offer them any respect, dignity or value?

So far in my life this technique has never let me down. I have lunched with seriously important people, who have offered respect and courtesy to the lowliest busboy. And I have eaten with stuck-up yuppie wannabes who have clicked their fingers in the face of waitresses. And almost every time, I've found the insight into their character has never led me wrong.

The big question for all of us, I guess, is how do we treat the waiters and waitresses who serve us?

Created on Mon 19th April 2010 11:36