What does it mean to serve? Let's not even go beyond the day-to-day, garden variety service that we encounter in coffee shops and stores. In fact, let's stay there. Last week, I had breakfast at a coffee shop. It was a small outfit offering only 5 or so dishes. Each dish offered either rice or white bread, except one which offered wheat bread. Yay. So I asked if I could have wheat bread with the omelet. The waitress looked at me as if I had just told her she had one month to live. I offered to pay more. I could see her imagining the worst but she bravely said she would "ask". Well-run establishments would say, "Yes, of course, maa'm. Wheat bread it is!" (Wheat na nga lang e, hindi man lang whole wheat!) I expected her to reappear with a more confident look on her face, assuring me of having a bit of fiber for my breakfast. But, no. Instead, she nearly tiptoed to the table and said it was impossible. It was simply not done. I could have fought for it, but since I was busy doing that with contractors, I decided to enjoy the refined, bleached, zero-fiber bread I was going to have instead. Today, I ordered a sandwich from Figaro, Alabang. When I walked in, all three servers were behind the computer trying to figure something out. The cashier barely glanced at me as we negotiated my order. When I asked her how long it would take, she looked at me with irritation and said, "Three minutes." I said I'd be back. I came back in about six and her 3-minute wonder was yet to be seen. What does it mean to be in the service industry and why do Filipinos--known worldwide for their hospitality--behave so differently towards other Filipinos in their own country? Why can't I have wheat bread instead of white? Why can't I get at least respectful service, since I am looking at you, talking to you, and giving you business respectfully? Service doesn't mean being a slave. It means doing your job and doing it well. It means having a can-do attitude, being respectful, helpful and efficient wherever you are. Isn't that all it is?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Serve
What does it mean to serve? Let's not even go beyond the day-to-day, garden variety service that we encounter in coffee shops and stores. In fact, let's stay there. Last week, I had breakfast at a coffee shop. It was a small outfit offering only 5 or so dishes. Each dish offered either rice or white bread, except one which offered wheat bread. Yay. So I asked if I could have wheat bread with the omelet. The waitress looked at me as if I had just told her she had one month to live. I offered to pay more. I could see her imagining the worst but she bravely said she would "ask". Well-run establishments would say, "Yes, of course, maa'm. Wheat bread it is!" (Wheat na nga lang e, hindi man lang whole wheat!) I expected her to reappear with a more confident look on her face, assuring me of having a bit of fiber for my breakfast. But, no. Instead, she nearly tiptoed to the table and said it was impossible. It was simply not done. I could have fought for it, but since I was busy doing that with contractors, I decided to enjoy the refined, bleached, zero-fiber bread I was going to have instead. Today, I ordered a sandwich from Figaro, Alabang. When I walked in, all three servers were behind the computer trying to figure something out. The cashier barely glanced at me as we negotiated my order. When I asked her how long it would take, she looked at me with irritation and said, "Three minutes." I said I'd be back. I came back in about six and her 3-minute wonder was yet to be seen. What does it mean to be in the service industry and why do Filipinos--known worldwide for their hospitality--behave so differently towards other Filipinos in their own country? Why can't I have wheat bread instead of white? Why can't I get at least respectful service, since I am looking at you, talking to you, and giving you business respectfully? Service doesn't mean being a slave. It means doing your job and doing it well. It means having a can-do attitude, being respectful, helpful and efficient wherever you are. Isn't that all it is?
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1 comment:
I wish I had a shirt that said:
I'm in the Service Industry.
I live to serve others.
Service above self.
Hindi po SELF-SERVICE.
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