It’s all about the golden rule, isn’t it? Treat others the way you’d like to be treated. That is the bottom line regarding respect. Of course, there are other important ways you can show respect to others and lucky for you, we’re going to outline some of them right here! The best part is, when you show others respect in simple ways (Inc.com will give you 99 of them), you gain it right back!
And because we respect your time, this is going to be a rather short blog. If you take the time to read it and the links embedded, you’ll be well on your way to showing and earning reverence right away!
After doing research, I’ve developed my own acronym of sorts to help me remember to be on my best behavior at work and in life. We all need reminders!
Respond kindly
Exercise active listening
Support others
Praise appropriately
Encourage discussion and different opinions
Communicate politely with your voice and body language
Treat others how you’d like to be treated
Go ahead, and come up with your own meaning for each letter of RESPECT. It’s a great way to flex those mental and empathy muscles!
Respect is a critical aspect to positive company culture. Even when you can’t quite put your finger on it, you know when you feel disrespected. That feeling does not often motivate anyone to do anything but respond in kind, which exacerbates the situation. According to The Balance Careers, showing respect, and in turn receiving it, increases productivity and encourages teamwork. Focusing on this from time to time is a great exercise for all companies large and small.
From making eye contact to using respectful body language, we all possess the ability to practice showing deference, esteem or polite indifference. In fact, when you take the time to purposefully initiate and exercise respectful behaviors you might be surprised at how much you enjoy the results. PersonalDevelopFit.com dives into great ways to do this. The next time you are going into a meeting with one or multiple people resolve to be an active listener, leave your phone alone and contribute positively to the conversation.
As a final thought, don’t underestimate the power of gratitude and appreciation when it comes to showing this topic. A well-placed and meaningful “Thank You” will endear you to the recipient and pave the way for a respectful relationship going forward.
As promised, this is a short one. Now go off and exercise respectful interactions. The world will instantly be a better place!
