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Respect, When Did You Learn It? How do you Incorporate it into Your Business?

By Pamela Knight

Services for Real Estate Pros with Urban Knight Enterprises, Inc.

June 02, 2008 09:24 AM

My son (13) came home today with a homework assignment regarding the "RESPECT". He was given the following bolded information and requested to answer the following question.

We all need and deserve to be respected. However, we cannot respect others when we do not respect ourselves. When you are rude, put people down, talk negatively, or insult people, you are hurting your respect for yourself as well as for others.

Everyone needs to feel good about themselves in order to get along with others. When someone does not feel good about himself or herself, he or she speaks and acts in ways that hurts others. When you don't feel good about yourself, everyone loses.

We all have bad days. No one is immune to having things go wrong. That is why we always have to remember to treat people with respect, even if we are not feeling very good about ourselves, or can tell that they may not be feeling much respect for themselves. When you automatically treat people with respect, you help everyone feel better about themselves.

How can I treat people with respect automatically?

I must say I found this to be a pretty unique assignment, especially since, my son asked me,

"When did I learn it and how do I incorporate respect into my business?"

He asked me to do this assignment and expects me turn it into him within 24 hours. Well, I am up for the assignment, and what a great assigment because I have to evaluate myself, my business, my advertisement, marketing and the services that I offer. I believe it is a great thing to evaluate the level of respect and how it is incorporated into a business. Are you up for the challenge?

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Robert Machado

HomePointe Property Management, CRMC - Sacramento, CA

CPM MPM - Property Manager and Property Management

I don't know if it can be automatic but you everyone can show respect by listening to the people they come in contact with. Listening takes many forms and the response should be relavent to what the person told you.

Jun 02, 2008 06:21 PM

Wallace S. Gibson, CPM

Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA

LandlordWhisperer

No offense Pam, but it appears your child goes to a "government school".

I disagree with the premise that you have to respect yourself first....children are TAUGHT to respect OTHERS and THEN they can respect themselves as they see the qualities that demand respect in others and want to immulate them.

As a 60+ female who grew up in the SOUTH, I was taught to respect women, adults, teachers and others in authority....it was not until I learned to KNOW the qualities I was "respecting" that I could learn those qualities myself.

I went to a private school where as a "senior" other students stood when I came into a room; likewise, I stood for others including teachers - male and female....I continue to do this, offer to shake hands FIRST; listen to others' comments and questions and respond accordingly.

30-Somethings have not been taught these qualities and often have the "attitude" that they can DISRESPECT UNTIL they are RESPECTED * that is BACKWARD thinking.

You GET respect by BEING respectful.

Jun 03, 2008 12:16 AM

Susan Mangigian

RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA

Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Pamela, I like the assignment. I think it is important to respect yourself, to like yourself and learn to be kind to yourself. I agree that certain people are awarded respect simply by being say older, in a position of authority, etc. For instance while I intensely dislike our current president, I disagreed with the people who booed him at the first ball game this year. I may boo him in private, but I would never boo him nor should anyone else. But I also believe that people need to earn respect. I think it's a great assignment and I think it is very cool that you are doing it for your 13 year old.

Jun 03, 2008 01:14 AM

Leslie Prest

Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ

Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

We have had a rash of rude people this week at our business, and my 21 year old son was talking to me today about his first rude customer at the restaurant he just started with. I told him my husband's quote about dealing with people: "The customer (read client or whatever) isn't always right, but he IS always the customer". In other words, be polite and respectful, even if they are wrong and rude. But you can also ask them to leave the office, or do as my son did, and call a manger to handle it.

Jun 03, 2008 12:59 PM

Pamela Knight

Urban Knight Enterprises, Inc. - Phoenixville, PA

This appears to be a great topic. Thank you all for your responses.

Robert, I agree listening is a very a necessary practice. People may or may not share the same idea or opinion of what is stated, however, it's okay to agree to disagree.

60+ Female, This assignment was geared to enlighten the students of their right to express their ideas and opinions freely about "Respect" with the intent to get them to think about their approach and communication with others. Primarily, respect was taught in one's home from nuturing parents, relatives, etc. However, in many households of today, this is not occuring. I believe any attempt to reach out and educate someone "virtues" is a good thing. Being able to communicate in a way that is not deliberately causing harm to others' character, feelings and/or reputation is reflection of one's character and how they're reared. I do not understand your logic of classifying the school as governmental, however I respect your right to your opinion.

Susan, I enjoyed doing the assignment with my son. It was interesting to hear his thoughts on what "Respect" means to him. The theory of treating people in the way you would like to be treated was his first notation. We both believe that people need to earn respect also. The overview of the business allow me to see some areas in which I can make some improvements. It's all good!

Leslie, I feel your pain, I love your Hubby's logic and commend your Son's action. Knowing when to stop the madness is the key. You don't have to play into it al all.

Jun 06, 2008 10:12 AM

Respect, When Did You Learn It? How do you Incorporate it into Your Business?

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