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Respect

“Every man is to be respected as an absolute end in himself; and it is a crime against the dignity that belongs to him as a human being, to use him as a mere means for some external purpose.” – Immanuel Kant

So many people are calling for a return to civility in our increasingly divisive world. Civility should not be our goal, it should be our baseline. Imagine an organization in which people have a profound respect for the people with whom they collaborate. What could they accomplish together?

Leadership Tools

Contempt, Respect, and Obsequiousness Stories

This document contains stories of people being respectful and of failing to be respectful. (The titles next to people’s names are their titles at the time the story occurred and may not be their title currently.) Discussing diverse situations in which people failed or succeeded to live up to their values often helps people to recognize and act on other opportunities when they arise. By discussing these stories in meetings, on teams, over internet or intranet forums, or in classrooms, groups can come up with ideas for leading with exceptional respect, learn each other’s perspectives, work through disagreements, and generate ideas. The Teaching note is included.

Experts

Kristen Lucas

Affiliated Faculty, Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship

College of Business, University of Louisville

Benefit of Respect

When people feel that they are treated with respect, they feel more grateful, more tied to their organizations, and are less likely to quit.

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