Step 1: become a learning machine
Step 2: work smart
Step 4: work hard
Step 5: work in a team, and now …
Respect all – Live your life through values and not through people. This means achieving your goals by cooperating with people and being guided by values. At the heart of cooperating with people is respect. Employees are the backbone of any business, the real substance of its existence. They are not simply an instrument of production to be used like any machinery to generate output. They are the decisive factor in the success or failure of your organization. So it is crucial to know that people live and die by values and for me, respect is at the centre of all values.
If you want to advance in your career, and strengthen your organization, then respect your colleagues, managers, staff, clients, suppliers, vendors, the people who water your plants and clean your windows, and any person around you! Fight the temptation to be disrespectful especially when people are disrespectful to you, or when you find yourself in a group where others seem to pile it on. Be respectful, period! Being respectful is self-empowering. When you focus on what’s good in people, you reinforce what’s good in yourself.
All too often, people confuse disagreement with disrespect. Disagreement is not only acceptable, it is often desirable in order to generate diverse, purposeful and insightful views that advance the organization’s overall goals. Disagreement often challenges our intellectual and emotional capacity and allows us to be both nurtured and grow. Disrespect, on the other hand, is never acceptable. Disrespect has no meaningful purpose or positive social value; rather, it often leads to further disrespect that generates wasteful distraction, stress and unhappiness. From time to time, respectful people are faced with a stressful experience and become disrespectful; they quickly realize that this does not work and regret such disrespect and move back to a respectful posture.
Every time you send an e-mail, give an opinion, or participate in a discussion, ask yourself: Am I being respectful? You should do that especially when you are upset! This is hard to do, I know, but it is certainly worth the effort. Practice makes perfect! Respect is not only your ticket to career growth, but also to happiness in the workplace and in life!
In business as in life, allow values to shape your personal brand. Not just tactically, but in all cases, be guided by values such as honesty, integrity, loyalty, humanity and, of course, respect. Make these values part of who you are. Be generous, trustworthy, and authentic in living these values and your life will take on a remarkable step forward. Values are your secret weapon to high performance and indeed to a happier life. Respect leaves you in high spirit, calm mind and grateful heart and that’s where all the magic is… Be well my friend, with love!
Thanks Mostafa, R-E-S-P-E-C-T !
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Thanks Karen… I know that you totally understand and could have written this bog:)
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Mostafa you wrote, “All too often, people confuse disagreement with disrespect. Disagreement is not only acceptable, it is often desirable in order to generate diverse, purposeful and insightful views that advance the organization’s overall goals.”
From a project management practitioner’s perspective. Resolving Conflict: A Project Management Practitioners’ Job #1
Whenever people are working together closely, conflict will occur. Differences in perspective, skill, knowledge levels, goals, communication styles, and expectations all can create conflict. View conflict as an opportunity to solve team problems and keep everyone focused on team goals.
Conflict is a part of life. People will always have differences. In the workplace, people can disagree over anything, such as policies, decisions, ideas, and strategies.
Conflict is not always bad. When it is addressed and resolved, conflict often leads to positive changes, increased productivity, better decisions, innovation, and bonding among people. Adversely, unresolved conflict can lead to poor productivity, low morale, distrust, and failure.
A project management practitioner must know how to handle conflict. Use our leadership skills to make sure the discussion focuses on issues and the search for solutions that will be acceptable to everyone. When everyone wins, the team and its stakeholders will be able to focus on its work and achieve its goals. A leader must resolve conflict.
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Well stated Mark!
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Mostafa you wrote, “When you focus on what’s good in people, you reinforce what’s good in yourself.”
This can be so difficult — especially when the sting of hurt feelings clouds one’s perspective. But, I can say from experience in and outside the workplace it’s the right thing to do—and the most liberating feeling one can have that is completely within our own control.
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Yes, it’s hard! but when you focus on what’s good in people, you stay away from negativity and that would help you stay balanced and centred …
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Right on! “Balanced and centered — results in the best for individuals, teams, leaders and organizations as a whole. Thank you for your timely and thoughtful threads Mostafa!
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