No, you don't have to be a diva to deserve a little respect.We lost another musical icon this week with the passing of Aretha Franklin. Whether you are a fan of hers or not, you cannot deny that her talent and style had a long lasting impact on popular culture and all genres of music. Yes, Aretha Franklin was worthy of much R-E-S-P-E-C-T....you can skip down to the "Last Word" if you are looking for a great piece about her.Respect is a funny thing in that the more you demand it, the less you seem to get. It's almost as if the fact that you expect it or ask for it makes people not want to give you your propers when you get home so to speak. I have found that outright respect is usually something one earns through a combination of their achievements, their talents and their actions, with a little bit also gained by simple longevity and experience. A title or role seldom comes with it automatically attached. No doubt, earning someone's respect takes some work.That all said, it seems to me that as human beings we all deserve a certain measure of basic courtesy and respect that we shouldn't have to earn. Each of us walks the Earth with our own feelings, priorities, goals, responsibilities, strengths and challenges. We carry these with us in our all of our daily interactions and, for the most part, everyone does a pretty good job coordinating their needs and burdens with those of others in order to keep harmony. That alone is deserving of respect because that takes work.I say this because I have been increasingly noticing a deterioration of basic respect in professional interaction. Maybe it's due to changes in how we communicate with one another particularly over social media and electronically. Maybe it's a charged political environment. Maybe it's generational. I'm not 100% sure what it is, but I am seeing a change where people have become so wrapped up in their own stuff that they simply don't have the same respect for others that they once did.This must be a "thing" because I have seen a bunch of stories lately talking about the negative effects of "ghosting" in the workplace. If you are unfamiliar (or don't have teenagers in your house), ghosting is a term, primarily associated with dating, where after a few dates you simply stop interacting with someone when you no longer want to see them. No break ups or confrontation -- you just ignore them or don't respond to any communication from them. Sadly this technique for confrontation avoidance is now becoming more common in the professional world -- whether it be through the job interview process or in simple business dealings. There is engagement, discussion, going back and forth on a number of issues for follow up and then, poof! Nothing. No regard for the other person's time. No regard for what they are trying to accomplish. It's unnecessary, unprofessional and yes, disrespectful.Let's hope that this is more of a phase and not a permanent shift in how people professionally operate. Don't ghost people and remember to make it a point to show them some respect....just a little bit....just a little bit...And with that, I've got some great stories to sock to you this week.. Take care, TCB.XOXODave
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Friends of Dave #86: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
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No, you don't have to be a diva to deserve a little respect.We lost another musical icon this week with the passing of Aretha Franklin. Whether you are a fan of hers or not, you cannot deny that her talent and style had a long lasting impact on popular culture and all genres of music. Yes, Aretha Franklin was worthy of much R-E-S-P-E-C-T....you can skip down to the "Last Word" if you are looking for a great piece about her.Respect is a funny thing in that the more you demand it, the less you seem to get. It's almost as if the fact that you expect it or ask for it makes people not want to give you your propers when you get home so to speak. I have found that outright respect is usually something one earns through a combination of their achievements, their talents and their actions, with a little bit also gained by simple longevity and experience. A title or role seldom comes with it automatically attached. No doubt, earning someone's respect takes some work.That all said, it seems to me that as human beings we all deserve a certain measure of basic courtesy and respect that we shouldn't have to earn. Each of us walks the Earth with our own feelings, priorities, goals, responsibilities, strengths and challenges. We carry these with us in our all of our daily interactions and, for the most part, everyone does a pretty good job coordinating their needs and burdens with those of others in order to keep harmony. That alone is deserving of respect because that takes work.I say this because I have been increasingly noticing a deterioration of basic respect in professional interaction. Maybe it's due to changes in how we communicate with one another particularly over social media and electronically. Maybe it's a charged political environment. Maybe it's generational. I'm not 100% sure what it is, but I am seeing a change where people have become so wrapped up in their own stuff that they simply don't have the same respect for others that they once did.This must be a "thing" because I have seen a bunch of stories lately talking about the negative effects of "ghosting" in the workplace. If you are unfamiliar (or don't have teenagers in your house), ghosting is a term, primarily associated with dating, where after a few dates you simply stop interacting with someone when you no longer want to see them. No break ups or confrontation -- you just ignore them or don't respond to any communication from them. Sadly this technique for confrontation avoidance is now becoming more common in the professional world -- whether it be through the job interview process or in simple business dealings. There is engagement, discussion, going back and forth on a number of issues for follow up and then, poof! Nothing. No regard for the other person's time. No regard for what they are trying to accomplish. It's unnecessary, unprofessional and yes, disrespectful.Let's hope that this is more of a phase and not a permanent shift in how people professionally operate. Don't ghost people and remember to make it a point to show them some respect....just a little bit....just a little bit...And with that, I've got some great stories to sock to you this week.. Take care, TCB.XOXODave