Being considerate shows respect, understanding, appreciation, and care towards whoever is involved. It effects our overall image - how people perceive us, which, in the end, is more positive. The more we realize and acknowledge things about people, the more we learn about ourselves (read: self discovery), and about everyone around us. This helps us become socially well-rounded, which is important to all of us when we're around friends, family, coworkers, strangers at a bar, and so forth.

So, let's get down to the nitty gritty. Being considerate involves compromise. You need to be observant of people's behaviors and feelings so you can determine what needs to be done. If someone you know is having a bad day, you probably shouldn't do/say anything inappropriate that would hurt their feelings. If you see a friend or colleague drowning in work, and you happen to have free time, lend a hand. These types of things are hard to forget. More after the jump...

What NOT to do/say when someone is having a bad day:

  • Suggest that they should've listened to past advice.
  • Be passive about their situation.
  • Suggest activities that may worsen their mood.

If you know that someone prefers something a certain way, compromising and finding middle-grounds with him will earn you huge points in their books. When you treat people with that type of respect, they will remember, and vise versa.

At the end of the day, it comes down to respecting others and being a good comrade. I have helped people get through some tough times, and they have helped me in return. Is there a better way to maintain a strong network of loyal friends and colleagues?