FEELING RESPECTED

Third publication in the Human Touch series

"I want to wake up on Monday morning with a smile, being happy that I can go to my work" - a specialist has said.

"I wish I can leave the office every day, without a need to replay to lots of emails after work" - added a manager.

"I want to feel that we are working together and not fighting with each other" - commented another employee.

A group of eighty employees gathered together in a room to talk about respect within their organization. There were managers and specialist representing various function of the same organization. The group was asked to split into smaller subgroups. Subgroups consisted of six to eight people.

The first question asked by a leader to all groups: What disrespectful interactions do you see in the organization?

All groups have spent twenty five minutes discussing the question. You would see people very actively discussing. The energy was high.

The leader has asked subgroups to stop. The whole group discussion has slowly begun. It took few seconds before the first person has raised her voice. 

"We blame each other too much" - she has said.

"Yes we blame each other. We are ignoring problems and are not doing what we should do" - another person has said. 

"We do not listen to each other. We behave as if we were the only smart people in the room" - another person has commented.

Topics were moving between blame, ignorance, lack of listening, lack of understanding, expecting too much, criticizing too much. There were comments about irony and sarcasms. Some people talked about personal attacks. 

Disrespectful interactions at work.

"What is the impact of disrespectful interactions on your work?" - the leader has asked the group. 

The large group has split again into different small subgroups. The discussion has been stopped ten minutes later. The leader asked the same question to the whole group.

"We waste time. Meetings are unproductive" - one person commented.

"Yeah, we do not deliver projects on time" - the other person added. 

"Most of our meetings are finished without any agreed actions. We talk, talk and talk" - a manager has commented.

Many different issues were raised during large group discussion. People said that: they have a lot of work, there are delays, they waste resources, they generate higher costs, they lost opportunities, there is pressure and a feeling of being alone with the burden.

"What would change if you stop unproductive interactions and start respecting each other?" - the leader asked.

At that time each person was asked to find a peer from another function. It was recomended to find somebody they know the least. People moved to find their peers. The dynamics has changed. Some people choose to sit down on chairs. Some sat down on floor. Others decided to stand. More positivity has entered the room. People got more curious about each other. There were a lot of listening in the room.

The leader has stopped the group after ten minutes. 

He asked another question to deepen the discussion, requesting people to stay with the same peers. 

"Feeling Respected at Work. Why is it important to You personally?" - he asked.

Discussions become quiet and peaceful. You would see smiles on faces. The leader had to give more time for discussions as some peers wanted to continue. Twenty minutes have passed. He asked again the same question to the whole group.

"Feeling respected makes me happy. I am able to enjoy my work" - one person has said.

"I like people and I want to be liked. I work better when feeling respected." - the other person added.

"With respect we can build trust. I feel better when working as a team rather than being alone" - the other person commented.

"I want to wake up every morning with a desire to go to work. I will feel happy that I can do something together with others". 

Space to share feelings and emotions.

Many voices were raised at the last part of that discussion. The last question gave people a chance to share their feelings and desires related to respect. They have continued the workshop after the break to create more trust within the group.

Feeling Respected at Work - Why is is important to You?

Respect is a base of trust and openness which are necessary for any human being, any team or organization to grow. There are at least three reasons You deserve feeling respected.