Visitors

The visitor who walks into an office and expects a red-carpst welcome because of his position in the outside world may often meet with frustration and even humiliation. Every office has its own discipline and its code of conduct. The employer or the manager may be busy with an equ­ally important guest or with a matter of grave concern for the organisation. It may not be possible for him to see the honoured visitor at once without previ-ousnotice. The visitor may have tositoutside, generally in the lounge or waiting-room provided for this purpose, but it is quite possible in small offices that such a separate place has not been provided in which case the visitor may have to make the best use of a chair at the same table with an employee till the employer or the boss is free to call him inside.

During all this time the visitor's forte would be his smartness, wit and humour. If he frets and fumes, flushes and complains, he may lose his dignity and his mood. He has to be good-natured and find something to talk about with the employee during the period he has to wait. It is for the employee or employees, of course, to offer him some refreshment on behalf of the company and the employer, and be respectfully attentive without neglecting their own work. The more easily an honoured guest can adjust himself to a situation like this, the more secret or open appreciation he will command from the employees as well as from the employer.

It would also be bad manners for a visitor to turn everything topsyturvy in the office or in the parlour simply because he happens to come from a bigger concern or is a man of a higher status. A visitor has to fit himself into the structure of the office. If his ultimate objective is to seethe chief of the office, he has to use his patience to get over the inconveniences that he may encounter, most of the time inflicted unintentionally. It is also not for him to ask questions or give suggestions or to be too persevering in pursuit of his objective. This of course has nothing to do with his business with the boss, but his dealings outside the boss's office, with the subordinates.

Visitor — I've an appointment with Mr. K. at ten.
Receptionist — May I have your card, Sir? (takes the card). Could you please wait for a few moments? Please make yourself comfortable (pointing to the sitting arrangements inHhe room and indicating a seat to him). Then after contacting the concerned person, Receptionist— I am very sorry but something has come up. Mr. K. will be free in five minutes. Could you please wait for a few minutes?
Visitor — Certainly, I'll wait, I quite understand.