Ways to Demonstrate Respect at Work and in Class

There's an interesting article at about.com from Susan M. Heathfield. She talks about the importance of treating everyone at work with respect, from the point of view of a good manager. I'd argue that these go equally for teachers in a class. Here are a few of her ideas:

Treat people with courtesy, politeness, and kindness.

Encourage coworkers to express opinions and ideas.

Listen to what others have to say before expressing your viewpoint.

Never speak over, butt in, or cut off another person.

Use people’s ideas to change or improve work. Let employees know you used their idea, or, better yet, encourage the person with the idea to implement the idea.

Never insult people, name call, disparage or put down people or their ideas.

Do not nit-pick, constantly criticize over little things, belittle, judge, demean or patronize. A series of seemingly trivial actions, added up over time, constitutes bullying.

Praise much more frequently than you criticize. Encourage praise and recognition from employee to employee as well as from the supervisor.

The golden rule does apply at work, or, as professional speaker Leslie Charles, says, “Implement the platinum rule: treat others as they wish to be
treated.”