Whenever it’s someone’s job to help me, I think of it as an opportunity to create a bright spot in what would otherwise be a pretty boring shift. I make them laugh with my silly commentary, engage them in interesting conversation, and above all, show that I care. I hope it makes them as happy as it makes me. And if it doesn’t, well hey, there’s always next time, right?
I want to show people that there is still good left in this world. When social media blares humanity’s worst all the time, love and compassion need to be loud, too. Cynicism, nihilism, and indifference have pervaded every aspect of our culture and, in my opinion, they just aren’t cool anymore. Joy is rebellion. Kindness is radical. Optimism is counterculture.
It may be their job to provide the service, but it’s my mission to provide the goofy to whoever needs it. Yes sir, I know this is a Wendy’s, but I’m not going to let that stop me!
As a service worker, I have a fair few regulars who I know will brighten my day when I see them. It really doesn’t take much; a friendly demeanour, a smile, a joke or two, it all goes a long way to make me feel like we’re having a human interaction rather than me being a machine through which you order food & drinks. I’ve been doing this type of work for years but I still get flabbergasted at people who answer “latte to-go” when I ask them how their day is going.
That being said, something that annoys me (not saying you do this, you sound sweet and self-aware) is when people try to chat us up when we’re clearly busy and in a rush. I don’t want to be rude, and I would love to chat if I had time, but when I have a mountain of tickets to get through I’m not going to be a particularly engaging conversation partner :P
It really does cut both ways. I feel like it’s easy for both sides to get wrapped up in this just being another face in the sea of millions. Another person to deal with.
Especially when we have a lot going on. Where they might not know the shitshow playing out in the back of house, we can’t know the show going on back at theirs.