Send to KindleA cranky chef is considered to be worth putting up with, because his or her meals are beyond excellent. Or stated the other way around: because his or her meals are beyond excellent, chefs feel they can be cranky and misbehave to boot.
An eagerness to please is a red herring in the workplace. It masks the inability to handle conflict, and perhaps masks a lack of skill and self confidence.
These are broad generalizations, but before you reject the idea, check it out for yourself in your workplace. Being polite and professional is preferred to being eager to please. This shows an appreciation for customer service that is backed by skill and expertise, and more important, confidence.
No one has a right to be cranky or difficult to work with. The more you put up with this kind of behavior in the workplace, the more you signal that it is acceptable. Tolerance for this kind of behavior is not a virtue.
