R. E. S. P. E. C. T...
That is what it means to me...
Not sure who sings that... Diana Ross?
I have for a long time said that my two core values are RESPECT and a PASSION FOR GROWTH...
And, I have looked for a good definition of respect, but never found one.
I write more about personal stuff than work stuff... only cause it seems like I will offend fewer people that way - and it is what is on my mind. It's all related.
The other day - a definition for respect popped in my head that really fit.
RESPECT to me is the MOST CRITICAL COMPONENT of harmony in human relationships. And, if you have been paying attention... you know Harmony is a big thing with me ;-)
RESPECT to me is:
the acknowledgement and valuing of someone else's INTENT, APPROACH and RESULTS to life or to any given situation...
Note that I did not say the AGREEMENT, but rather the acknowledgement.
You may want different or more results - but that doesn't mean you can't VALUE the results they got... or INTENDED TO GET. No one fails to get results intentionally.
I sit in meetings ALL DAY LONG or in conversations.. and the MAIN REASON, the FUNDAMENTAL reason that harmony fails to appear in virtually EVERY conversation is because there is not mutual RESPECT.
And, so when someone disrespects or fails to acknowledge and value the intent, approach or results - it leads to a battle for affirmation of one's own intent, approach or result.
If we acknowledge it - then we have the right and the space to disagree with it, or better yet to evolve it, or modify it, or compromise it into a form that is MUTUALLY satisfying...
Or at a minimum that is disagreed to but understood.
When someone respects you... you are so much more inclined to respect them back...
When someone respects you... you trust them... even if they disagree with you...
When someone respects you... you give them CONSIDERATION...
Think about it...
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
When you disagree with someone... are you just disagreeing with the results that they may have gotten or might get, or with the approach, or with the intent? And, WHEN YOU DISAGREE... do you then FAIL to acknowledge it or value it?
I'm telling you - there is POWER in these words...
RESPECT your colleagues, your fellow citizens, those you love... and you will marvel at how different the exchanges will become...
Yours in respectful harmony,
Nestor