Maybe It Is Your Job
What I learned when shopping
A few months ago, I was shopping in a well-known retail pharmacy. I had a coupon for one of the products I was buying. For some reason, the coupon barcode wasn't recognized by the scanner. The sales associate called the store manager over for help and explained the situation to him. He sighed deeply, shot me a glance and said, “I guess we'll have to cancel the transaction and put it in manually.” That seemed like a reasonable solution to me, but it was clearly one the manager did not relish. He began the manual process, accompanied by more sighing. At one point he looked at me as if I had decided to come into his store for the sole purpose of making him miserable.
I couldn't take it any longer. I tightened my jaw and said, “You know, this issue isn't my fault. I'd appreciate it if you could be more gracious in helping a customer.”
That suggestion didn't land well with him. He looked me in the eyes and replied, “You have no idea what kind of day I've had.”
Well, not being one to miss an opportunity to put someone in their place when I think I've been aggrieved, I firmly stated, “Understanding how your day has gone is not my job.”
In the end, we both apologized. But here is the lesson. Everyone we come in contact with is just as human as we are. And just as we do, they have great days and other days that are not so great. Wouldn't it be better if we took some small role in trying to help our fellow humans see a bright spot in an otherwise challenging time? How meager the investment if I'd just told the struggling manager that I appreciated his help versus trying to diagnose his motivation in glancing at me.
Would that have changed his day from stormy to sunny? Maybe not, but it certainly wouldn't have encouraged him to gather more ominous clouds. I propose that it just might be our job after all. Let's see if just listening and showing a little compassion leaves both people feeling better. I'm willing to bet that they will.