Courtesy...

To be successful in Corporate America, I have been told that you need to learn how to play golf, keep up with current news, come in before your boss, leave after him, be flexible and about a few other things which I don't care to get into at this moment. I don't possess many of those traits, but what I can bring to the table is more important then anything listed above....the courtesy laugh. I have found that if you simply laugh at people's jokes, no matter how funny they are.....or are not...then you quickly become the most popular guy in the office. Everyone loves the co-worker that laughs at their jokes. You see...when you laugh at someone's jokes you give that person a sense of pride...a sense of accomplishment...something that money or even a $10 an hour out-sourced employee in India can't provide. Every office has a few of these make-shift comedians...people that make jokes about everything and are rarely funny. Instead of staring blankly right back at them or giving them an obviously fake laugh, I give them a perfected courtesy laugh. A laugh that sounds genuine...giving them a sense of accomplishment...and in turn, me good reviews. Look around and try to figure out who's the make-shift comedian in your office...I'm sure you will find a few...if not, then it is probably you.