R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me!

I was saddened to hear recently of Aretha Franklin’s passing. The news did however bring back many happy memories of riotous parties from my youth which often ended watching The Blues Brothers in the early hours of the morning. Dancing with Jake and Elwood while Aretha sings Think, is still a favourite movie moment.

The song starts with Aretha taunting her man…

‘You better think about what you saying. You better think about the consequences of your actions’

Of course Respect is probably a song she’s better known for. And although the lyrics are about a romantic relationship, the underlying sentiment that respect is vital to any relationship is a universal one. So it’s no surprise it went on to be adopted as both a feminist and civil rights anthem.

Respect

At a challenging time for many, with heavy workloads or tough SLAs to meet, as well as additional strains in personal lives, it’s important to think about respect.

It can be easy to be critical of a colleague who doesn’t get back to you straight away, or forgets to send that document you asked them for. When this happens, we should take a moment to consider why. Before passing judgment, put yourself in their shoes and consider their situation and the challenges they face.

At work, we don’t necessarily expect to personally connect with all of our colleagues or share their interests, or, for that matter, even like them – but it’s not unreasonable to expect a level of mutual respect.

No matter what your role, everyone in your organisation should be helping in some way to deliver the mission. You need to work together to achieve your goals, which is why good working relationships with colleagues are critical. Given that the level of respect you have for someone can make or break a relationship, if colleagues feel they’re not respected, it can be hard to work together productively.

What respect means to me

While reward and recognition initiatives are great for the handful of winners, how can the rest of us feel appreciated and show our appreciation for others on a day-to-day basis?

Personally I find a please and thank you can go a long way and it costs nothing! A minimum level of respect which everyone – regardless of status – should practice. I also send quick thank you emails, particularly to show appreciation to colleagues who aren’t in my immediate team where it’s not so easy to simply thank them for their help and support in person.

Understanding is the key to relationships

I don’t believe anyone at work sets out to do a bad job or let anyone down. Everyone has good qualities and things to admire, if you take the time to find them out. So, if you don’t understand someone’s role – ask them! Understanding what someone brings to the table can vastly improve the way we collaborate and work together. It also means next time you’re starting to get frustrated, you can more effectively put yourself in their shoes. And visa-versa.

It has been said that a little respect can go a long way, so why not give it a go? And, don’t be afraid to ask a colleague for mutual respect if you don’t feel it’s being shown to you.

So, in the words of Aretha, ‘think about what you saying’ and show ‘a little respect’.

And for those of you who’ve never seen the scene referred to earlier, take a look here.