5 Behaviors to Build Respect
Paul is the principal of Bird Advisory in Perth, Western Australia.
Respect is considered a “must have” in how we get along. Consider the depth of feeling that usually accompanies the phrase “a lack of respect”—either regarding what is directed at us, or toward a tradition or institution.
Like many English words, it’s a little ambiguous. One meaning is simply to pay attention to—to recognize something or someone that must be taken seriously (an obstacle, a threat, an authority or institution). This is “recognition respect.”
The other meaning is how we might think highly of a person based on our qualitative assessment of how they meet certain standards. It has variable degree, like admiration. It can also be lost when new facts emerge. This kind of respect is called “evaluation respect.”
The attitude of self-respect is an important one, as the respectful relationship with ourselves is the one we can most readily influence—and is also looked on carefully by others (“Why should I respect him if he doesn’t even respect himself?”).
Rooted as they are in social-moral values, the relative emphasis on the virtues that garner respect are biased by culture. However, some behaviors have the potential to build respect in any setting. Here I highlight five, while also pointing out corresponding erosive behaviors to avoid.
1. Act with Grace
One …
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"The reason why worry kills more people than hard work is that more people worry than work." - Robert Frost |
