Respect the people who can do nothing for you

It is easy to be polite to your boss. It is easy to smile at a client.

But watch how someone treats a waiter. That tells you who they really are.

The test

Real respect is not about status. It is about seeing every person as a person.

• You say thank you to the driver.
• You learn the name of the security guard.
• You don't speak to the waiter like they are a machine.

None of these people can give you a promotion. That is exactly why it matters.

Respect is a choice you repeat

You don't respect people because they earned it in five minutes. You start with respect. It is your default.

People can lose it later. But they should not have to buy it first.

For leaders

If you lead a team, your team watches this more than anything you say in meetings.

They notice how you treat the newest person. They notice how you talk about people who are not in the room.

Today's word: respect. Treating people as if their feelings and time matter.