Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 38 CNC Manufacturing Technology and people around you. A smile and courteous behavior can make custom- ers and fellow employees feel good about themselves and you. Clients and customers prefer to do business in friendly environments. Being friendly may take some effort on your part, but it does pay off. Enthusiasm spreads easily from one person to another. Usually, enthu- siasm means a person enjoys what he or she is doing. In a sales environ- ment, enthusiasm increases sales. In an office, enthusiasm builds a team spirit for working together. People who do a good job feel pride in their work. They feel a sense of accomplishment and a desire to achieve more. This attitude can inspire others as well. 2.5.5 Professional Behavior You will be expected to behave professionally on the job. This includes showing respect for your boss and coworkers. Limit personal conversa- tions and phone calls to break times or lunch. Act courteously remember that others are focusing on their work. Interruptions can cause them to lose concentration. Part of behaving professionally is responding appropriately to con- structive criticism. Every employee, no matter how knowledgeable or experienced, can improve his or her performance. If you receive criticism from a supervisor or coworker, do not be offended. Instead, use the feed- back to improve yourself. The more you improve, the more successful you will be in your work. 2.5.6 Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Employers value workers who have the ability to make sound decisions. This process applies in the workplace as well as other aspects of life. The process will help you identify an issue and possible solutions, make a deci- sion, implement the decision, and evaluate the results. Having the ability to solve problems on the job shows an employer that you are able to handle more responsibility. Solving problems as a group can strengthen camaraderie and help employees feel more pride in their work. The ability to make decisions and solve problems requires critical- thinking skills. These are higher-level skills that enable you to think beyond the obvious. You learn to interpret information and make judg- ments. Supervisors appreciate employees who can analyze problems and think of workable solutions. 2.5.7 Communication Skills Communicating effectively with others is important for job success. Being a good communicator means that you can share information well with others. It also means you are a good listener. Good communication is central to the smooth operation of any busi- ness. Communication is the process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, or information. Poor communication is costly to an employer, such as when time is lost because an order was entered incorrectly. Poor communication can result in lost customers, too. The primary forms of communication are verbal and nonverbal. Verbal communication involves speaking, listening, and writing. Nonverbal communication is the sending and receiving of messages without the use