The number three is considered the personification of perfection and harmony. Maybe this is the reason why exactly three basic rules of business etiquette have been defined. Or maybe it’s just coincidence, who knows. In today’s post, a few words about that third, in my opinion, most important etiquette rule – respect.
What exactly is respect? Respect is defined as an attitude toward people or things considered valuable and worthy of recognition. In a business environment, respect is desired and unconditional, regardless of the “deserving/undeserving” aspect. It’s a bedrock principle on which all business relationships are built.
The question could be asked, how do we relate to someone with respect? I would say that it is the way we ourselves would like to be addressed. How then? First of all, by allowing others to speak freely and fully, having at the same time the feeling that we are being listened to. Being an active listener is quite a challenge. I know from my own experience that it’s a skill which requires training, especially in the age of remote working. As for the discussion itself, regardless of whether we agree on an issue, expressing mutual empathy and controlling our emotions is another key element of respectful communication. One good practice I recommend is to try to understand our interlocutor’s arguments. The other person’s perspective may be quite different, and we should not close ourselves off to our understanding of an issue. Foremost, listen, tune in, understand, respond kindly.
You may think that this is quite trivial and obvious. And while it sounds so in theory, the reality is completely different. Being respectful and non-judgmental instead of arrogant is an extremely difficult task. It’s not just a matter of understanding cultural differences and recognizing social distance. It’s part of our character and habits, which may take even years to shape. However, it is undoubtedly worth all the effort.
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