Respect: Dos and Don'ts

Eve Ash asks Peter Quarry for examples of respectful and non-respectful behaviors. Peter itemizes inappropriate remarks and jokes, put-downs, blaming others and making excuses for one’s own actions, excluding people, being unhelpful and judgmental, and being careless about errors, mistakes, timelines and standards. Each behavior downgrades a workplace’s productivity, whereas encouraging and role-modelling positive and receptive behaviors achieves the opposite.

Psychologists provide sound advice for building respect:

• Don't make inappropriate remarks and jokes
• Don't mimic people
• Don't put people down
• Don't blame and make excuses
• Don't exclude or avoid helping others
• Don't be careless about standards
• Do be sensitive to others
• Do be understanding
• Listen to and understand others
• Be helpful
• Show empathy
• Behave responsibly