[snowwrestler]

I'll share two insights I've learned over time about courtesy.

1) Being courteous, over the long term, gives you power. There have been a number of initiatives I've been able to get done at work, that others could not, simply because colleagues give me a greater benefit of the doubt. They do so because I have always treated them very well, even when we disagree.

2) To be truly courteous, you must be very organized. If you're unorganized, it's easy to lose track of things--and it will be impossible to keep track of the many niceties of small interactions. But these are what add up, over time, to a great reputation.

Number 2 is an insight I have learned (and continue to learn) the hard way.

[ameister14]

I'd add that you should always respond as quickly as possible. If when you receive something you immediately write a thank-you, for example, it always gets done. If you wait you can more easily lose track.

[itsybitsycoder]

Do you have any recommendations for how to stay organized enough that you can keep track of these things?

[simonbarker87]

I'm not sure if this is help or stating the obvious but I've found that consciously making the effort to remember stuff and record it in my mind goes a long way to staying organised on this front. I found the best way to start was with people's names, when someone says "Hi, I'm X" I try to response with "Hi X, it's good to meet you, I'm Simon". Just this simple repetition of their name goes a long way to committing it to memory, if you can say it a couple more times in the conversation you won't forget it again.

[snowwrestler]

I don't--it's something I struggle with, to be honest, which is probably why its value has become so apparent to me.

[rishikhullar]

Thanks for these insights. I couldn't agree more.