How can we change this poor culture and start treating each other with some common courtesy and respect again?

Here are a few suggestions that spring to mind.

• Yes your email is so overbearing that it is easy to quickly look at it and then decide to go back to it later. Don’t do it! Deal, Delegate or Dump it! If someone needs an acknowledgement – hit the reply button and send it. If it’s SPAM dump it, if you have to go back to it, remind yourself in your calendar and file it in a personal folder.
• If someone sends you a gift in the mail – acknowledge them with a quick email or better still a phone call.
• You are not that important that you can’t offer your fellow human being a quick answer, acknowledgment or thank you.
• Don’t let ill mannered staff damage your branding. Your organization should strive to have happy, helpful and courteous employees. Returning phone calls and emails is just plain good manners.
• Always give excellent customer service, and then give that little bit extra.
• Send cards by mail – yes I mean the old fashioned way with a postage stamp. Thank you cards or just a postcard is a novelty these days and stands out.
• Take a colleague out for coffee if they have done something to help you, or do it to cheer them up if they are having a bad day.
• Try and smile to at least 5 strangers every time you walk down the street.
• Bring some laughter and fun into the office, creating a fun environment is contagious.
• Always be on time for appointments.
• Smile and be happy when you are on the phone, it really does make a big difference
• If you say you are going to be somewhere, be there! Unless you have a genuine excuse do not let people down at the last minute.

All it takes is just a few tiny changes in attitude to make our working days much happier and productive.