Practicing Regular Respect Is Easy Until It Isn’t
For the most part, while entering or exiting a public location such as an office building, coffee shop, or retailer, you’ll keep the door open for someone you don’t know. You’ll also say “excuse me” when you run into someone in public, if you’re like the vast majority of people. When someone sneezes, you’ll greet them with a “bless you.”...
The Politics of Respect: Pandemic Edition
Last year, shortly after the pandemic began and the US became politically divided on how to respond, we began hearing from fearful, angry, and upset people who were asking – and, in some cases, demanding – that their opinions on the virus, it’s causes, and the steps that individuals and the country should take in response, be “respected.” This trend of people wanting their opinions to be...
The Respectful High Performance Virtual Organization Can Be Yours if….
It was February of 2020 and we were on a roll. I had just founded my latest organization, The Center for Respectful Leadership, a few months before and we were in high energy, rapid growth mode. I was huddling daily with my team of part-time marketing/biz dev folks in our leased offices in downtown San Diego; breaking bread with and enrolling major coaches and thought leaders into our Advisory...
America’s Sub-Culture of Hate
Many Americans are deeply concerned that the recent mass shootings in Atlanta are yet another horrifying sign of the escalating abuse, violence and discrimination toward Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. We at the Center for Respectful Leadership share these concerns and believe it is our responsibility to speak out and take a stand against hate. The trends are unmistakable:...
America the Respectful?
Photo by Alex Martinez on Unsplash Although it sounds hyperbolic and simplistic, there is little doubt in most people’s minds that this is the most important election in modern American history. And though I sincerely doubt that what I write here will do much to sway anyone, as the Executive Director of the Center for Respectful Leadership, I see it as my responsibility – my duty –...
Wait…what? We Agree?
Something odd just happened in American politics that deserves attention. Two opposing candidates for Governor of the state of Utah – one a Democrat, the other a Republican – bucked the advice of seasoned political advisors and appeared together in a political ad they both approved. You read that right, they appeared together. Their message: while we represent two opposing parties...
Religious Discrimination, in the Grocery Store?!
Photo by Natalia Rosa on Unsplash During this week’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings for judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is also a member of the conservative Christian community People of Praise, concerns are being expressed about how the nominee might rule on questions involving religion and the workplace. Given this, at least one recent case, which centers on the government suing the...
Being “Neutral” and how it backfires- a breakdown of Marie Forleo’s Apology and how she got it right.
2020 has been an interesting year, to say the least. If you or your organization have had the luxury of staying neutral on matters of social justice in the past that is certainly no longer the case. When it comes to matters of humanity, society wants to know: Where do you stand? And who do you stand with and for? Many organizations and high profile individuals are grappling with how to express...
I Agree with People Who Don’t Want to Wear a Mask
Photo by C Drying at Unsplash I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the folks who don’t want to wear a mask, and I want to say to them, “I hear you.” First of all, there’s no question in my mind, masks are really annoying. I wear glasses and they’re always fogging up when I wear my mask. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten into my car only to realize,...