l. After the usual treat of taking the childLast weekend was a Visiting Day for parents whose children go to boarding school. I was not left behind. I also visited my daughter and two youngest cousins who all go to the same schooren for a hair cut and a much anticipated sumptuous meal I returned all my three students back to school with the aim of stopping by the principal’s office to talk about the progress of these three children and the entire school at large, this school was among the top three during last year’s national examinations both in the primary and secondary sections.When I got to the principal’s office I found some parents waiting for him outside his office, and as usual we started chatting. When the headmaster came, the parent who came first entered the office. I expected that after his turn was over the rest of us would follow suit, but how wrong was I! Immediately that parent entered the principal’s office all other six parents went in with him but I stayed put on my seat outside the office waiting for my turn.When my turn came I entered the office and before we had barely exchanged pleasantries with the principal of the school, other three more parents barged into the office and sat down wanting to listen to my discussion. Being the person I am, I politely told the other parents to wait for the principal outside his office because whatever discussion that was going on was between the two of us; as I did not want a third person to hear my discussion with the principal. Honestly speaking I find this to be extremely uncouth!I don’t know how we are going to instil office etiquette in our people? It is extremely rude to enter into someone’s office when there is already another person being served. I faced a similar situation early last week at my local bank where I had gone to discuss money matters with my bank manager. Here I was trying to discuss my personal matters when two fellows walked in and stood almost behind the bank manager trying to peep at what was on the screen of her computer; I was very disgusted to say the least.Good office etiquette is easily achieved by using common courtesy as a matter of course. Keep your interruptions of others to a minimum and always apologise if your intrusion is an interruption of a discussion, someone’s concentration or other activity. Show respect for each other’s workspace and it is very important to knock before entering. Also, showing appreciation has never hurt anyone, when you visit someone’s office it is a show of good manners if you say thank you even for the slightest courtesies extended to you.In layman’s language; good office etiquette means the do’s and don’ts in offices; we do not just practise good office etiquettes when we are visiting other people’s offices, but it should start from within us and in our own offices-remember charity begins at home.
