Let’s face it, human beings are egoistic by nature. Not many people have the guts to say “Thank you” when someone has helped them with something. Some might be willing to say it…but they’re not sincere.

And there are also not many people who dare to say “Sorry” when he/she screwed up.

Few days ago, an ex-colleague of mine messaged me in MSN to complain about something which has happened to her that day. Her teammate, a senior, received an email from their UK project manager. The email was quite an unpleasant one. From the first paragraph until the last paragraph, the manager was complaining about my friend – about her being unprofessional, unwilling to do her job, attitude problem, etc. My friend was quite angry and disappointed with the email because she did not do anything like that. It does look like she’s been made a scapegoat. So i told her to seek advice from the senior and the team leader in Malaysia, to see if they’re behind her in this. Fortunately, they are because all her emails to the UK were screened by the seniors before reaching the UK side. Well, for now, the sea has become calmer…..everything has settled down, though my friend was still badly hurt by that email.

The UK side has stopped complaining…but, no apologies whatsoever from the UK side after that.

On another unrelated incident, I was helping another colleague from UK also (such a coincidence eh?) to check something…and i even helped to complete some of his stuff …….. But no “thank you” whatsoever and he did sound quite rude in the emails. Maybe it was a miscommunication? But one thing for sure, I wasn’t pleased at all.

I mean, what’s wrong with this people? Will a simple “I’m sorry” or “Thank you” kill them or rob their jobs from them? I doubt.

Nowadays, more and more people are missing basic courtesy. People are just too busy with their own stuff and too pissed with their own jobs or own life…….that they cannot stop to notice that actually, there are people out there who are helping them…….or to stop and notice that, they are indeed, wrong in certain things.

So, slow down a little every now and then…….look around…….and maybe, just maybe, you’ll notice that there is indeed someone who has been helping you. Say “thank you” to him/her.

Or….maybe, there are certain things which you’ve done wrongly. Say “sorry” to those concerned.

It will make them feel better, and who knows, it might make you feel better too.

p/s…….. to my friend’s boss, thank you for replying to that stupid email from UK. And to the UK colleague, thank you for becoming a victim in my blog.