Let's talk about something that's been bothering me—and I know I'm not alone here. As we step into 2026, I have a wish for all of us: let's bring back professional courtesy. I'm talking about the simple act of responding to people who've given you their time, their expertise, their energy.
And before you roll your eyes, no, I'm not talking about responding to every cold email that lands in your inbox. I'm talking about the people you actually set meetings with. The ones you spent 30 minutes, an hour, sometimes more with. The ones you asked to demo their services, submit a proposal, or stay in touch with. The ones who showed up for you—and then you ghosted them.
Here's What I Really Mean
You scheduled the call. You asked the questions. You seemed interested—maybe you even were interested in the moment. They sent you exactly what you requested. And then? Radio silence. No "thank you, but not right now." No "this isn't the right fit." No "let me get back to you in a few months." Just... nothing.
Listen, I get it. I really do. Saying no isn't fun. Nobody wants to be the person who disappoints someone or closes a door. But here's the thing—ghosting someone after they've given you their time is actually worse. It's disrespectful to them, sure. But first and foremost? It's disrespectful to yourself.
Because here's what ghosting really says: you just wasted your own time. You took time out of your day for a conversation you apparently didn't value enough to follow up on. And in the process, you wasted someone else's time too.
The Small World Principle
Here's the part that makes me want to ruffle some feathers: most of us aren't that busy. I'm sorry, but it's true. If you can scroll through LinkedIn, if you can grab coffee with colleagues, if you can attend that networking event—you can send a two-sentence email. "Thanks for the conversation. This isn't the right fit for us at this time." Done. Thirty seconds. That's professional courtesy.
And here's the kicker—it's a small world. Smaller than you think. I've personally had people ghost me after I gave them my time, only to reach out months later asking for career advice or introductions to my network. Respectfully, that's not how this works.
When you ghost someone, you show them you have no respect for their time. And you know what? People remember that. They remember who showed up with integrity and who didn't. They remember who treated them like a checkbox on a to-do list versus someone worth a basic acknowledgment.
Let's Be Real About the Excuses
Sure, there are legitimate reasons why someone might not respond. Life happens. Emergencies come up. I understand that. But let's be honest—most of the time, that's not what's happening. Most of the time, it's one of these scenarios:
You just didn't want to respond. You figured if you ignored it long enough, it would go away. You're probably unaware that this even matters. Or here's the one that really gets me—this is just how you operate in your job. You're there to tick boxes, not get fired, do the bare minimum. Having these conversations is part of your role, but you're not actually trying to build relationships or make your organization better. You're not actually trying to learn, connect, or add real value.
And honestly? That's a shame. Not just for the people you're ghosting, but for you. Because you're wasting your time being in a role you clearly don't care about. You're going through the motions instead of building something meaningful—relationships, opportunities, growth, impact.
My Wish for 2026
So here's what I'm hoping for as we move into this new year. I want all of us to remember that professional courtesy isn't optional—it's foundational. It's the baseline of how we show up in the world of work.
Let's remember that when someone gives us their time, the least we can do is acknowledge it. Even if the answer is no. Especially if the answer is no.
Let's remember that it's a small world, and the bridges we burn today might be the ones we wish we could cross tomorrow.
And most importantly, let's remember that our time matters—which means we shouldn't waste it on conversations we're not going to honor with a response. And we definitely shouldn't waste other people's time in the process.
The Simple Solution
I'm not asking for anything complicated here. I'm asking for basic human decency wrapped in professional courtesy. A simple "thank you, but no thank you" goes such a long way. It shows respect. It shows integrity. It shows that you value your time and the time of others.
And if you can't even do that? Then maybe don't take the meeting in the first place.
As we navigate 2026 together, let's raise the bar on how we treat each other. Let's be the professionals who respond, who acknowledge, who show up with courtesy even when the answer is no. Because at the end of the day, the worst thing we can do to anyone—including ourselves—is waste time and pretend it doesn't matter.
It does matter. And we all deserve better.
What are your thoughts on professional courtesy in today's workplace? Have you experienced this ghosting culture? I'd love to hear your perspective—drop a comment or reach out. And yes, I promise to respond.
About Elena Agaragimova
Elena is a career coach, talent development strategist, and speaker who helps professionals and organizations navigate the evolving future of work. Through her work, she focuses on performance, wellbeing, and helping people make meaningful shifts in their careers. Connect with her at elenaagar.com or follow her journey on LinkedIn.