This is one of those tips that has a literal and a figurative meaning. When I initially thought about it, it was the literal meaning that struck me. But after thinking about it for a couple of minutes, the figurative meaning hit me, which means it’s actually two tips in one!
First, when you think about ‘open a door’ as a respect tip, I am sure you imagine a man holding a door open for a woman, right?! Of course, that’s what I thought first too. But opening the door for someone doesn’t have to regulated by gender. I’ve often held doors open for other women and highly advocate men doing this for other men.
What this creates is a general sense of respect not solely based on gender. It shows that you are courteous and aware enough to think about the person in front of you. And that builds respect for everyone.
On the other hand, opening the door for someone else can have a figurative meaning, especially if you think about it in a workplace setting. If you are a manager and you publicly praise your employees or give them opportunities to grow, then you are opening a door for them to their future.
Which door will you open for someone today?
