I notice that if I start a conversation with someone for the first time in a given day, I have to greet them. If circumstances require that our first exchange is not a greeting, I will at the first opportunity greet them. Does anyone else feel this way?
For example:
A and B, who are friends, or colleagues, meet for the first time that day at a morning work meeting.
(B walks into meeting)
A: Meeting’s about to start, have the presentation ready?
B: Sure do. What order am I?
A: Looks like you are second.
B: Cool. By the way, good morning.
A: Good morning!
I am wondering if anyone else feels funny starting a conversation without a formal greeting? I feel like I am doing a disservice to the person I am talking to. Or is this just me?
I avoid greeting people or making inquisitive small talk. The way I look at it, the sooner we get down to business, the quicker we can both be done with this awkward interpersonal interaction and I can get back to building a canoe out of the conference table that ‘disappeared’ one night or practicing my bushcrafting skills with excess office supplies. The less I know about other people’s affairs, the happier I am. I’m not interested in caring about people.
I have learned that in the workplace, a proper greeting is necessary, especially when interacting with members of some ethnic groups. It’s considered quite rude by some people to just launch into business with someone without a “good morning” or “how are you” type exchange. And for the purpose of easing relationships, it’s better not to have that reputation.
It’s really funny, mark n_1. I knew this was a House reference, but I actually used to work at the Hospital twenty minutes from the Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital (now called PennMed). I accompanied dance classes for people with Parkinson’s.
I’d find the insertion of a greeting after the start of a conversation to be rather weird. If I was A and had already done greetings with the people already there and B walked in right as the meeting is about to start I might prioritize checking up on B’s preparedness over the ritual exchange of platitudes.
I’ve done both A and B within the past month, epecially if I am coming into a dicussion which has already started. Continuing the dicussion is the priority. And when that’s done, then comes the greeting, and often an invitation for coffee.