Clipboards and Smiles
Whilst I was walking into a very busy Scunthorpe town centre last week a revelation hit me as I was engaging in my usual practice of studying the people. If you want to avoid being crushed in a crowd when shopping – just make sure the first things you take with you are a clipboard and pen, you are ensured a wide berth.
It’s amazing the variety of responses people have when they are approached by researchers carrying clipboards. More often than not – people just sigh & lie. They say, “I’m sorry I can’t”, when actually, they can. They say, “I’m in a rush”, when quite clearly they’re not. They say, “I’m already late”, when of course, they’re not even due anywhere.
Here’s a tip, if you really don’t want to complete a questionnaire just smile and say, “I’m sorry I don’t feel it’s the best use of my time right now”. The researcher is happy because you’ve been cheerfully polite and you are happy because you have
escaped.
A proverb in the Bible says “Worry weighs a person down; a cheery word makes them happy”. Make Scunthorpe smile this week – be nice to someone when they’re least expecting it.
