I recently gained a new perspective when, of all things, I was watching a TV show.
I saw a program where they showed a military funeral, and I was awed by the absolute precision and care they took to fold the flag. It struck me as a demonstration of profound courtesy, honor and respect.
It made me wonder, “Do I take care to convey the respect I have for my family, friends, and clients?”
And I reluctantly admitted that the answer was, “Usually.”
Until seeing this fictional funeral, I hadn’t associated attention to detail as a way of conveying my respect for others. So I came up with a few ways to outwardly show courtesy, honor and respect:
- Show up on time for meetings and appointments
- Respond to email & phone calls in a timely manner
- Pay attention to details with written communications
- Dress with care
- Promptly acknowledge others when they help
Of course, all of the above can also be seen as strategies to demonstrate professionalism, which is how I’ve viewed them for a long time. From my new perspective of taking care to honor others, these actions take on an even more powerful role.
I’d love to hear some other ideas of how to demonstrate respect for others in our daily lives.