The criteria for calling a book “good” is that it touches you in some way or causes you to think – even to become a better person. “The Power of Respect” by Deborah Norville was such a book.
Norville’s definition of respect - “Acknowledging the value and uniqueness of others and being mindful of their feelings, while at the same time trying to put myself in their position.”
Reading through her seven steps to understanding the power of respect caused me to examine my relationships at home and with colleagues and friends. Do I afford them the respect due a person, solely on the basis of being? In some cases, I came up short and so the book was the wakeup call that I needed to be more mindful of others.
A short list at the end of each chapter highlights the key themes that were dealt with. These reinforce the many examples included within the chapter itself. Respect begins at home, so a fair number of pages were taken up with that, but respect in the workplace and self-respect were also covered.
Some noteworthy quotes:
“Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.”
“People perform to their expectations.”
“Respect is a door that swings both ways.”
Respecting others can take a lot of work, but this book explains why it is vital to any relationship and also provides practical steps to successfully achieving your goal.
1 comment:
Sounds like a great book. I always try to remember that if someone is "grouchy" with me that I don't know they may have had a hard day or something else...it doesn't really matter. Maybe my polite respect will make their day better, if not it didn't ruin mine.
I will admit I have to work on this in some areas of my life too.
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