R-E-S-P-E-C-T

When a company/school needs a policy or educational program to help employees/students understand the importance of Respect, I scratch my head. Its like the sign in a restaurant bathroom: "Employees Must Wash Hands". Seriously, do you need a reminder?

Anyway, I found these Five Pillars of Respect:
1. Acknowledge One's Presence - Greet one another, Use individual names, Excuse interruptions, Acknowledge others.
2. Value One's Opinion - Listen to understand, Indicate non-verbally that you're listening, Be curious about other's ideas, Ask questions to understand
3. Explain Why We Do What We Do - Understand and present the big picture, State the why - the intent - and what you need, Perception is reality - without full and accurate inofmration, people will create their own reality.
4. Provide Ongoing Feedback - Develop feedback skills, Look for what people do well, as well as what they can improve, Give feedback freely, allowing others the opportunity to consider your comments, Speak plainly, openly and tactfully.
5. Show Appreciation - Say thank you, Acknowledge good deeds and work.

You know, on second thought, maybe we do need to be reminded of this stuff every now and then. This is good advice for all relationships - Parents and Children, Husbands and Wives, Brothers and Sisters, Managers and Subordinates, Me and the driver at the corner of Campbell and 1st Avenue who didn't wave when I let him out. Stupid, stupid, little man.