About smiles and Russian mentality

[oryx_and_crake]

There was a heated discussion on this topic a while back; I think the article sums up the issue nicely.

http://commbehavior.narod.ru/RusFin/RusFin2000/Sternin4.htm
Don't say you haven't been warned ;-)
(please note the article is in Russian)

Comments

[car-calloway.livejournal.com]

how acts non-soviet shop assistent when there are too many customers? Have you ever been a shop assistent?

[alon_68]

There is the queue and he/she assist the current customer, not depending on how many other customers are waiting. They know that they should simply wait and they will be assisted the same way. It's the responsibility of the higher level manager to avoid such situation, but even if it happens it shouldn't affect the level of the service. Anyway, personal remarks are not acceptable.

[car-calloway.livejournal.com]

OK. But let me notice that actually it is psycologially hard work. Sometimes i wouldn't blame assistant for being rude to me and wouldn't take it on my personal account, its just because of weariness. Russians don't used to hide their feelings - that is what this article about.

[alon_68]

OK, this is exactly what I'm talking about - if anybody feeling not so good considers it acceptable to pour his/her own bad mood to the people around, there would be very unpleasant atmosphere there.