NUANCE MATTERS
Friday, December 3, 2021
Maybe this ‘pandemic era’ makes us hyper-sensitive, or perhaps it was a cranky Tuesday.
Shopping for some groceries at my big-name-brand grocer; the cashier, young, not one I’ve seen before (not wearing a ‘trainee’ button or being shadowed by a co-worker). I, therefore, presume she’s trained/authorized to represent their store’s interface with the public.
The problem was not that her parents or employer hadn’t taught her values or manners – I’m sure they did, but did they teach nuance?
I’m equally confident her employer taught her to be a good cashier, pack groceries carefully, and be friendly toward customers.
But, did they teach common sense? Did they teach nuance?
That cashier, college student age; so I would expect schools, parents, and employer ought to have taught her that the reason people pay high prices for asparagus is because of the tops, the heads, for those delicious tips ~ so that packing them with tips down means they get crushed in the bag is not helping customers and damages expensive produce.
Tip to trainers: check to see your young staff know the price and value of delicate and fresh products and how to pack them. You don’t have to teach them to be careful with cans, frozen peas, or anything in a box …
Extra tip to the parents, teachers, and grocery-chain job trainers: when a conversation starts, “Well, do you have any exciting plans for this glorious day” – that’s light, non-invasive, genuinely good PR. Teach that.
On the other hand, saying “What plans do you have today?” is off-putting, an invasion of privacy by a stranger.
Little things are big things.
Nuance matters.
P.S.: no, I didn’t go back to complain – I didn’t realize my asparagus tips were crushed until I got home. I’ll continue to shop there, but I’ll choose my cashier more carefully. That’s nuanced …
Reader feedback:
A reference in your column today made me laugh. I have visited the “c-suite” on two separate occasions to troubleshoot, only to learn that a couple of people with some very heavy responsibilities were not aware they simply had to scroll down to see the information they were looking for. Imagine, in this century, not knowing how to do that basic task, or worse, knowing how but not thinking it was something they could try. So no, they aren’t all ready for change. As for the rest of us, I think at some point we just give up trying to keep up and then we’re doomed to getting our technology advice from 8 year olds, HW, Calgary, AB
And, to Alberta residents only: THIRD ACTion Film Festival is doing a 50/50 raffle again – buy a ticket, be a winner + make the pot richer, for a great cause – draw date is Dec. 22nd.