Quick story.....a few years ago we were on a job site and everyone was working hard....I happened to be talking to the customer about something and I asked one of the guys to hand me something. He brought me whatever it was that I asked for and (without thinking about it) I said "Thank you, sir". The customer said "I thought you were the boss?" I said "I am the boss". I could tell that he was surprised and impressed but it wasn't a big deal to me at all. That's how I expect us to act every day. We're supposed to be professionals. Attitude matters.
Addressing people as “Sir,” Mike has a good practice. It improves the flavor of social interaction—at no cost. It’s a good touch.
Back in the 1970s when I was selling firewood, I delivered a load one day to Pat Longway who burned wood to heat his tire shop in a defunct filling station at a country four-corners. He was the best to deal with, patching tires at working-man’s prices and fixing you up with a used tire when you needed one.
Before unloading, I walked in and said, “Good morning, sir.”
Pat took the cigar out of his mouth and said, “Ain’t no sir around here—we fired his ass.”