Communicating Respect
Respect is about how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress. ~ Richard Branson
How do you spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T?
Something I hear a lot from people that are having trouble communicating is: He/she/they just doesn’t respect me.
Have you ever felt that way?
Why is that? For most of us, not showing respect isn’t something we intentionally do.
It’s much easier to see what a lack of respect looks like in others, than to recognize when you aren’t showing respectful behavior. Quite simply – we don’t always notice our own behaviors and non-verbal cues that can be perceived as a lack of respect.
Test out how you are doing by using this acrostic of 7 ways to show respect:
Recognize how what you are saying is coming across. Pay attention and watch for feedback from others. Watch your tone and use good non-verbal skills.
Eliminate negative words and phrases from your vocabulary. Don’t use words that can be hurtful, offensive or misinterpreted.
Speak with people — not at them, or about them. Engage in a conversation, not a debate, or a lecture.
Practice appreciation. Show appreciation to those around you daily through your words and actions.
Earn respect from others by modeling respectful behaviors. Don’t expect respect from others if you are acting like a jerk.
Consider others’ feelings before speaking and acting. Is what you are saying kind? Is it necessary?
Take time to listen. Don’t interrupt. Always listen first.
So, how did you do? Do you do them all, regularly? What could you do better? Pick out one of these descriptions of respect and work on making it a daily habit when you are communicating.
Showing respect is often something you don’t think about. But it’s an incredibly important skill to develop to make your communication better for better results. Some of these behaviors will take time to practice and learn. And it is well worth it! Learning to regularly show respect when you communicate will make a huge difference in your relationships at work and home.
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Please schedule a free 20-minute consultation with me. I’d love to chat with you about your own communication struggles and victories and answer any questions you have.
