Before delving into a more somber subject, I would like to extend my heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year to everyone.
Throughout the past few years, we repeatedly highlighted the unsettling surge in what we call “public disrespect,” incivility, and discord within American society, reaching levels not seen since the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War.
However, unlike 56 years ago, the contemporary landscape is marked by the omnipresence of the internet, smartphones, social media, and biased reporting from so-called cable “news” channels, broadcasting false “alternative facts” and conspiracy theories around the clock. It’s no exaggeration when the news keeps telling us that we are a “polarized,” deeply divided nation.
Regrettably, numerous indicators point towards 2024 being even more challenging than its predecessor. The specter of increased disrespect, potentially escalating into violence, looms larger this year compared to the last.
While the upcoming Presidential election is a significant contributing factor, it’s certainly not the sole cause. The brutal wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, heightened tensions between the US and China, the erosion of women’s rights, a surge in antisemitism, growing animus toward minorities and the LGBTQ+ community, political assaults on academia, a continuous influx of migrants and asylum seekers across southern borders, and myriad other issues are converging to create an even more complex and heated environment of disrespect, frustration, and conflict.
This is all bound to polarize us even more. At our organization, The Center for Respectful Leadership, we’ve found that in challenging times, individuals often take out their frustrations and upsets on others, in other words…
When the going gets tough, people get tough on each other.
However, we recognize the need to transcend mere reporting and handwringing. Our ongoing commitment is to make a positive, enduring impact on the world.
To this end, this year we are set to initiate a series of public dialogues on the theme of Respectful Leadership™, conduct many more Respectful Leadership workshops for new clients, and double the number of public certification programs we’re offering to HR, executive coaching and leadership professionals on how to restore respect using our Coaching for Respect™ Process.
Our intention is to provide you with steadfast support throughout what promises to be a very trying year. And of course, if the temperature in your organization starts to go up and people are getting tough on each other, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at hello@respectfulleadership.org
Yes, let’s hope 2024 is a happy New Year for all. But if it’s not so happy for you or your organization, don’t be afraid to ask us for help!
