Buffini & Company Blog

The Lost Art of Respect

If you want to be a strong, confident business owner, who can dominate in any market, we’ve got you! Attend Master Class this Oct. 18-19 in Seattle, Wash. and be immersed in next-level business strategies and personal growth content delivered by industry legend Brian Buffini and powerhouse guest speakers. Click here to learn more!

When the market shifts, you need support from the best in the business to help you navigate the changes. At Buffini & Company we’ve got you! Join us throughout the year, live and virtually, to hear from our experts on what you can do now to meet and surpass your goals in 2023. Click here to learn more and to register.

In today’s increasingly divisive world, it seems that the art of respect is disappearing fast. From online trolls, to a culture of criticism, to increasing incivility in personal and professional interactions, an epidemic of disrespect is growing. If we do nothing, it’s only going to get worse. So, what’s the solution? We must reengage and rebuild our respect for each other – if not, we’ll never succeed in business or in life. Here’s how:

Acknowledge others  

If you want to give respect, you have to seek out opportunities to acknowledge people. For example, always use someone’s name and make sure to say thank you. As Dale Carnegie, author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” once said, “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”  

Be tolerant

Tolerance is really another word for giving someone grace. All too often we tend to judge ourselves by our intentions, while we judge others by their actions. Striving to be more tolerant and have grace for others is respect in action.

Express admiration

Having admiration for someone is another form of respect. The American film director Hal Hartley once said, “Respect, admiration and trust equals love,” while French author Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, “Tell me who admires and loves you and I’ll tell you who you are.” Food for thought!

Have deference

By definition, deference is the respect shown for another person especially because of his or her experience, knowledge or age. Being politely deferential means sometimes yielding to someone’s judgment or preference out of reverence. As the English poet William Shenstone once said, “Deference is the most indirect and most elegant of all compliments.”

Walk the talk

To be truly respected in life, you must walk the talk. That means keeping your promises and your word. If you say one thing and you do another, you’ll never receive the respect you want.  

Give respect

Respect is all about being considerate and honoring the feelings, opinions, and property of others. If you want to receive respect, you first must show it to others. Give and you will receive!

Do it for a long time

As you become more and more successful in life, make sure that respect is a hallmark of your character. Give respect continually to everyone you meet along the way and you will ultimately be respected.

Giving and receiving respect is crucial to personal and professional success. When you’re respectful to yourself, your loved ones, your staff, customers and community, you’ll build a positive culture one interaction at a time. Focus on respect and you’ll change your own heart and attitude, transform your interactions with others, positively impact your business and vastly increase your success. To learn more, listen to the latest episode of “It’s a Good Life”.

Related Posts

September 12, 2023

Detox Your Attitude


In life, your attitude defines your altitude. You won’t [...]

September 8, 2023

Why Simple Wins with Lisa Bodell


In a world where complexity is killing many companies' ability to [...]

August 2, 2023

The Importance of Struggle


No-one wants to experience adversity in life, but it’s also true that [...]

August 2, 2023

How to Say No and Smile


Saying yes to everything can seem like a great idea – but it can quickly become a very big [...]

August 2, 2023

Building an Unbreakable Brand with Kevin Keenan


A successful brand is far more than just a logo, it’s how your customers truly feel about your [...]

August 2, 2023

The Most Attractive Trait in Business


Self-confidence is one of the greatest traits an entrepreneur can have. People can mistake [...]