How To Have Honest Cashier Conversations
There are a lot of ways to waste a whole lot of time in the supermarket. Spending a minute or two talking to the person who serves you is not one of them.
How often have you been in a very, very uncomfortable situation at the register? Trying to pack up in time, remembering your pin after being unable to scrape enough change together, all the while thinking of the appropriate thing to say as a farewell… only to come up short when it counts most: you mumble an inventive new arrangement of syllables, grab your things, and quickly leave the store.
We’ve all been there.
Next time, take a minute. Listen first, think, and then talk. Try to hear what the other person is saying. Maybe they’re having a stressful day and are just “going through the motions” in talking to you?
That’s okay.
If they don’t invite you to take part in an Honest Cashier Conversation, don’t be afraid to make the first step. It doesn’t have to be huge. Give them something that makes them feel seen. Maybe mention how busy the store seems today. It doesn’t have to be special. The purpose is to make another feel that you notice their share. That you notice that they are trying. Remind them of this. Maybe you’ll earn a smile for that, or maybe not. It’s really not the point. Try to be happy just with doing your part.
Because if you keep at it, you’ll soon have lovely talks with strangers left and right; and be a better person for it.
