MyOrderDesk by PagePath

The cover of Newsweek has declared that the recession is over. For many people and businesses, it doesn’t feel much like it. Stressful times continue, and anxious people can be rude or abusive.

Now is the ideal time to think about the principles of etiquette: honesty, respect and consideration. They keep personal and professional relationships solid, says Peggy Post, director of the Emily Post Institute.

• Consider your own behavior. Be more patient and understanding than those who are rude or gruff.
• Understand that some people aren’t coping well with their money problems. A sleepless night could mean they will doze off in a meeting or avoid conversation with co-workers. If you know them well, reach out and be a good listener. Be careful not to reveal a confidence.
• Look ahead to better times. Predict boom rather than gloom, advises professor P.M. Forni, founder of the Civility Institute. Watch for hopeful developments. Optimistic conversation creates a more positive mood for everyone at home or at work.
• Offer reassurance. Ask a friend how he is doing. Let co-workers know your relationship is in good standing. Talk to your kids about a situation that will affect them. Continue to have family fun like roasting hot dogs in the park.
• Talk to your people. If you’re the boss, give them candid information but include something positive. If you’re not the boss, listen carefully.

Post and Forni remind us that this is a resilient nation and much better times are coming.

Kind, respectful and considerate behavior will help to get us there.

Post and Forni were recently interviewed by USA Weekend.

Though co-workers can be wonderful, you could be thinking that some of them are a pain in the neck.

But whether you like them all or not, co-workers are here to stay. You might as well decide how they can help you or how you can avoid being distracted by them.

So say business writers Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon in their often-humorous book about dealing with various types “so you can get what you want out of your job.” So far, their I Hate People … has gained great reviews.

They do make a point when they say the person who has your best interests at heart is probably the one sitting in your own chair. They recommend “solocrafting,” which is essentially how you can move forward with your work under any conditions. What they advise:

Stop talking. Start doing. Stop asking (for whatever). And, make them (the supervisors and co-workers) believe in you. In other words, the writers of this humorous book are champions of the entrepreneurial spirit in day-to-day office life.

They also say teams with more than three to five competent people are not very effective and can stifle your creativity. Whether or not that’s the case, the authors admit they don’t have all the answers.

Regarding teams, they also contend that the saying, “there is no I in team” is not right. They recommend changing the letters around so you can find a “me” in team.