Page 5 - Kindness - No Forward

Introduction

“I never get any respect”
-Rodney Dangerfield

Dignity and respect. Courtesy and kindness.

They are probably communication’s most essential ingredients. They are
attributes that motivate people to buy our products, work for our
companies, and spend time with us as friends.

People are crying out to be treated with dignity. To received some respect
for their feelings. To be treated with courtesy, thoughtfulness, and
kindness. Our children, our customers, our friends, our employees,
everyone longs for the same thing.

Show Some Dignity and Respect

In every instance of world-class communication, from one-on-one
discussions to major public addresses, I have observed that effective
speakers communicate more with their attitudes than with their words.
And listeners who are treated with dignity and respect are always ready
and willing to hear more.

There are specific ways we can convey these positive attitudes and treat
people with courtesy. Unfortunately, there are also specific ways we
convey a lack of dignity and respect for our listeners. And when our
attitude doesn’t convey the basic common courtesy of dignity and respect,
even the most beautifully crafted, logical and clever speech in the world
will be wasted.

We don’t convey dignity and respect….
….when we resent another person’s style of behavior instead of
appreciating, and even celebrating, the difference.
….when we fail to take the other person’s agenda into consideration.
….when we fail to look the other person in the eye and call them by name.
….when we don’t empathize with the other person.
….when we fail to listen.
….when we don’t show respect for the feelings of the other person.
….when we are unaware of the messages our nonverbal signals
communicate.
….when we place a higher value on what someone does for a living than
how they do it.
….when we constantly poke holes in the other person’s dreams and
visions.