Respect and regard

All human beings at some point want to be respected. It is part of who we are to look for appreciation, acceptance, regard and respect, even honor.

But in a world where everyone seems to think they can say whatever they think about anybody, respect has become an underrated value.

It has become part of an old tradition, something from the time when everybody trusts on each other. That made an age when economy was based more on values than prices and stocks.

However, in my experience guiding teams in many companies and non-profit organizations, respect and regard still play an important part.

Let’s take the interesting example of an international flight, in which the system has failed. About 400 passengers had to be checked-in without the basic help from computers… Yes, made by hand boarding passes and luggage tags.

And yet… with respect, calm and regard for each passenger, the ground crew was able to embark everybody. Each person who complains was talked separately, in low voice and in a nice way. By the way, the flight did leave around 2 hours later, just to arrive a few minutes before it time; and the luggage arrive very promptly too.

Values are more than nice words, they are part of what we all need to overcome crisis in any situation.