Do good manners matter at work? Should you really be expected to be polite all the time, or can you bend the rules in the name of efficiency and productiveness? The answers are Yes, Yes and No!

Most people don’t intend to be rude or discourteous. In an attempt to be efficient and productive we sometimes forget to consider the impact of our behaviours on our colleagues. Courtesy and respect towards others should be standard behavior in the workplace, regardless of role, rank, stress or circumstances.

Demonstrating workplace courtesies is not about just being nice, it’s about the effect you have on the world around you. Being unaware or uncaring of your behaviour will eventually create a toxic and hostile environment where no one is happy. There's no excuse for discourtesy in the workplace. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.” Take the time. Be mindful of it. The results—a pleasant outcome for everyone.