Part of practicing respect at work is being willing to invest time in each other for the purpose of increasing our awareness. By getting a better sense of what’s similar in our experiences and what’s unique, we eventually figure out what’s important to each other as well. This “court awareness” dramatically increases both our predictability around each other and our efficiency at getting work done.
I recently took an Uber to a meeting and the driver said something that really struck me. He told me how he’d just finished vacuuming the car out right before picking me up. A recent customer had clipped her fingernails during her ride and left nail remnants all over the back seat and floor.
If you've ever been to London and traveled on the tube then you've seen the signs or heard the announcement to 'mind the gap.' It's a gentle reminder to watch your step from the train to the platform. Similarly, we all have the power to mind our mood, even if no one tells us to. In an article recently [...]
Not too long ago, I was on my way to a client meeting on the other side of town from where I live. To get to the site, I had to cross a bridge through downtown. This bridge is a main thoroughfare and therefore heavily traveled. So much so, that they are actually building another bridge [...]
At a recent networking event I was standing near a couple of younger women who were deep in a conversation about challenges they were facing at work. After introducing ourselves I learned that they both work in large organizations, each in a position of power. One woman was talking about a staff member who seemed [...]
Probably one of the easiest ways to earn respect in the workplace is to mentor a colleague who is new to your team or organization. I am sure you know about the traditional mentoring process where a seasoned colleague works with a younger staff member in a formal way. Maybe they agree to meet at [...]
So here's a scenario for you to consider: It's based on recent political entanglements. You sit on a board that has the power to make decisions for the entire company, but you dislike the President of the company. Even though both of you claim to want the best for the company, you continually block all the [...]
Today we begin a new weekly feature, where we suggest a respect tip for you to use in your workplace and daily life. Often these tips will seem obvious, but as everyone's daily lives become busier, these 'niceties' are often the first thing we forget and are also the most important to fostering an environment [...]
It may be hard to believe but something as basic as listening could just be the answer to creating a supportive and respectful work environment. At work, many people spend a great deal of time talking and wanting to be heard. Some of us are on the phone all day. Others make a career out [...]
I wrote this en route, flying home after delivering Speak Up: Speak Out – Personal Power and Respect in the Workplace, one of most popular presentations I developed after publishing Road to Respect last year. Speak Up: Speak out is intended to empower employees to speak up about disrespect at work. I make the case [...]
