Mike Domitrz argues that respect shouldn't have to be earned, it's a baseline everyone deserves. The idea that respect must be earned creates a power dynamic that devalues people. He asks how organizations can build universal respect into their structures and culture.
Respect. But here's the fascinating part. Respect is not a standard of excellence. Respect is the bare minimum requirement. Can you imagine if I walked up to you and said, my job is so amazing, they actually treat me with respect. Isn't that incredible? You'd all be like, where did you work before this job? That is such a horrifically low standard. Here's a wild one. I want you to fill in the blank, because a lot of us were taught this when we grew up. It's a belief about respect. Here it is. Ready? Respect is not giving. Oh no. Respect is Earn. Massive fail. See, if I have to earn your respect, I'm not good enough to be me. This is a power game now. I have to do something to be worthy of you. And then when I get in that role, I'm gonna do that to everybody else because that's the system you taught me. How about this one instead? Respect is given to every human being, and every means all genders, identities, sexual orientations, body shape, size, age. Every means every. That's the conversations. How do we build that in organizations?
