How You Treat Servers Says A Lot About You
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Years ago, I remember reading that if you want to tell how good or trustworthy a person is, you should observe how they treat waiters and waitresses.
Anyone who is nice to you, but not nice to their servers, is not fundamentally a good person.
Often referred to as 'The Waiter Rule', I've found it to be almost universally true. ('Almost' because everyone has a bad day every now and then.)
If I'm having a meal with someone I don't know, I observe how they treat those around them - folks who are seemingly 'insignificant' to them. If they are rude or obnoxious, that says a lot about the person I am with. It tells me to be on my guard in my interactions with them.
Raytheon's former CEO, Bill Swanson, who got this concept from comedian Dave Barry, wrote about this years ago, saying:
"Watch out for people who have a situational value system, who can turn the charm on and off depending on the status of the person they are interacting with. Be especially wary of those who are rude to people perceived to be in subordinate roles."
The point is, it's not just about waiters and waitresses. It's about the janitor in your building, the security guard, the lady who comes into your office after hours to clean up while you're working late. Just because you're a senior executive doesn't make you any better than the 22 year old who just started out at your firm. Or the person who makes your coffee every morning.
Think about those you know, maybe even yourself. How are you with the waitstaff? How are they? This rule almost never fails.
Anyone who is nice to you, but not nice to their servers, is not fundamentally a good person.
