Respect for Success

By Mark Scott, red belt

Respect means showing the value or importance of something or someone.  When we respect the law, we show the importance of the law in our society by acting in accordance with its regulations.  To show respect to someone, we show that we value their opinions by asking advice, we show trust by following their leadership, and we accept their faults along with their abilities and talents.

Respect should be used in all areas of our lives to exist in a healthy society.  Showing respect at home should be obvious.  Children should always give respect to their parents.  Parents should show respect to their children when they do the right things by increasing their responsibility and giving them more freedom.  Husbands and wives should show respect for each other by always listening, always forgive each others mistakes, and accept each other faults.  Any lack of respect causes a breakdown which could break up the home.

Respect at work must be shown to both those above, equal, and below in the hierarchy.  When those above make decisions, they must be followed and respected.  If the decisions aren't respected, the leaders will replace the workers with those who will follow and respect the decisions.  Respect must be shown by the leaders as well to those below by rewarding by promotions or monetary increases.  We must respect our equals to work together and make the right decisions which in turn produces the best quality work.

I have and try to show a great deal of respect to my co-workers.  Again and again they show a great deal of imagination to solve problems.  They also produce work of great quality.  I must also try harder to show more respect to the upper management at my work.  While my direct managers seem to make decisions that are easy to understand, the higher management make decisions that sometimes seem to be counter-productive.  Instead of finding fault with the decisions, I should respect those decisions and try harder to understand and follow their leadership.

". . . and we accept their faults along with their abilities and talents."