Respecting others means respecting other people's perspectives, time, and privacy. This can be done by putting yourself in the shoes of others and showing concern for others.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Showing Respect in Daily Life
Step 1. Be kind and courteous to others
You can show respect if you can understand other people's feelings. Everyone wants to be treated well including you. So, treat others the way they want to be treated. Show respect and be polite when you run into people you don't know, coworkers, classmates, and family members.
When meeting people in need, offer food, drink, or daily necessities
Step 2. Be polite to others
As a child, etiquette and manners seem less useful, but as an adult, these rules play an important role when interacting with other people. Being polite is a way of respecting other people. If everyone were allowed to act their own way, everyday life would be chaotic, for example when eating at a restaurant, waiting in line at the cashier, or dealing with traffic jams. To be polite, apply the following rules:
- Wait your turn while waiting in line. Don't jump in line or grab a vehicle on the highway, except in an emergency (e.g., you need to go to the hospital immediately).
- Don't speak loudly in public. Don't talk when the cinema lights are off. Do not make calls in closed public areas, such as in coffee shops, supermarkets, or restaurants. Have a telephone conversation outdoors.
- Keep it clean and tidy. If you spill coffee on the counter, clean it up immediately. Get in the habit of throwing trash in the trash or recycling garbage, such as cigarette butts or food wrappers.
- Speak politely. Use "please" when you need help and "thank you" when you are helped. Do not insult, yell at, or berate others.
- Obey the rules which ensures a safe and pleasant atmosphere. If there are restrictions on eating or drinking in certain places, you must obey them. When reading the warning, "No feeding the birds" or "Use a public computer for up to 30 minutes", apply these rules to keep the atmosphere comfortable.
Step 3. Don't discriminate
Respect everyone, not just people you know or are of higher status. There are people who show respect to make a good impression on certain people, but are rude to others. Remember the proverb that reveals the truth: "The character of a person is seen in the way he treats those who are unable to help or do something for him." Be nice to everyone regardless of their title, appearance, and relationship with you.
- Be kind to everyone regardless of social status.
- Eliminate negative views of women, people of certain skin color, people with disabilities, people with certain sexual preferences, followers of different religions, homeless people, obese people, and people who are excluded by society. Differences are not a reason to look down on others. Live life in equality with mutual respect.
- Be kind to people who are often looked down upon, such as the homeless. They are fellow human beings who deserve respect and be treated with courtesy, but tend to be underestimated and treated poorly.
Step 4. Respect people with different beliefs and opinions
Show respect for people who have different, even contradictory, opinions. Differences make life more dynamic and it is possible to reach agreements that are not currently thought of. Even if you don't understand his perspective, still speak politely and be polite. You don't have to be friends with everyone you meet and differences of opinion are normal, but make sure you always show respect for everyone despite differences:
- Culture
- Religious beliefs
- Political views (except extremism which harms many people)
- Sports team preferences
Step 5. Show respect in public
Make sure you respect others when in areas or facilities that are shared by many people, such as at home (if you live with other people), at school, on the highway, in public transportation. You will feel disturbed if other people litter the area for daily activities. So, make sure you always maintain cleanliness and tidiness in your home and public places so that others feel comfortable.
- Get used to maintaining cleanliness by throwing garbage in the trash. Don't leave dirty food packaging or tissue on the floor and wait for someone else to clean it up.
- Don't create graffiti or murals in public areas (unless you're a painter and have permission).
Step 6. Appreciate the earth and all living things
Showing respect is not just being kind to others, but also to animals, plants, and the earth. We live together on this earth and must respect each other. Treat every living being as an individual worthy of respect.
- Try to prevent environmental pollution.
- Realize the impact each of your actions has on survival. For example, the use of pesticides in plantations can pollute groundwater and damage the environment. Therefore, be wise when making decisions.
Step 7. Respect the property of others
Using other people's property at will is disrespectful and unwise. Ask permission before using other people's property. Otherwise, you could be accused of stealing.
Step 8. Respect the personal area
Know that personal areas are affected by situations, locations, and interpersonal relationships. For example, don't stand or sit too close to people you don't know on public transportation and don't talk to them if they don't seem like they want to be disturbed. It's normal to touch friends and family members, but make sure they don't mind.
- If you want to hug or touch someone, make sure they see you so they can refuse if they object.
- Ask permission before doing physical contact for a long time, for example before styling your hair or doing massage therapy.
- Treat disabled persons' equipment (eg canes or wheelchairs) and walking animals as physical extensions of the person concerned. Don't touch it before asking for permission.
Method 2 of 3: Communicating with Mutual Respect
Step 1. Listen carefully when the other person is talking
When having a conversation, being a good listener is one way of appreciating the person you are talking to. If you seem bored or cut him off, this is a sign that you don't care about him. Before responding, listen carefully to what he is saying and wait for him to finish speaking.
- Show respect to the other person by making eye contact. You can show respect through body language. When talking to someone, make sure you look at them and don't get distracted when they talk.
- Try to understand what he's saying, instead of just nodding your head absentmindedly.
Step 2. Think before you speak
When it's your turn to speak, think of a response that makes the other person feel valued. Consider what he has to say and don't share opinions that demean others. Do not say harsh or disrespectful words.
- Don't underestimate other people. When giving an explanation, don't convey things that he already understands, for example explaining how to kick a ball to a national soccer player.
- Don't speak harshly to other people. Your interlocutor will feel belittled if you talk casually. For example, avoid saying, "Don't be rude if you can't come up with a solution" or "This is a personal matter, you know what."
- Keep in mind the things that shouldn't be discussed in certain situations. When talking to people you don't know well, don't ask questions of a personal nature, such as asking for an explanation about the cause of the 5cm scar on his forehead.
Step 3. Be clear if you want something
While it's nice to help, the other person can't fulfill your wish if he doesn't know what you want. Therefore, explain your wishes (physical or emotional) so that he is not confused.
Step 4. Respect differences of opinion
Make sure you respect the other person's perspective even if they are very different. One of the most important aspects of debating is expressing your opinion without putting the other person down. For example, you may oppose someone's political choices, but they deserve respect as a fellow human being and this attitude should be reflected in the way you present your argument.
- Don't insult other people when arguing. You can say, "I don't agree with you," but don't attack him personally with, "You idiot!"
- If the situation escalates, stop the argument to keep things under control and you don't say something you end up regretting. Instead of getting what you want, you only get new enemies if you put other people down.
Step 5. Learn to be patient and have a good attitude
Sometimes conversations don't go smoothly, resulting in mispronunciations or difficulty finding the right words. Let him speak quietly. If you don't understand what he's saying, assume he wants to be nice and is trying to understand you.
Step 6. Don't generalize to others
When discussing, do not judge someone's opinion or background based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or other aspects. Everyone has life experience and wisdom as an individual worthy of respect. Don't make the embarrassing mistake of assuming you know everything about someone, when you don't know them personally.
Step 7. Don't gossip
One of the despicable acts that is often taken for granted is gossiping, but this behavior is a bad habit. This happens because the people who are gossiped about are considered worthy of being talked about, rather than as individuals who have feelings and can be hurt. Even the most irritating or repulsive people shouldn't be talked about to please others.
- If you can't say anything nice, it's better to keep quiet.
- If someone starts gossiping, politely decline it, for example by saying, "I don't want to gossip" or "I can't say things about other people that I can't tell them."
Step 8. Apologize if you offended someone
Despite your best efforts, you may unintentionally hurt the other person's feelings. Your response is far more important than the mistakes you make. If you notice that you did something wrong or that you offended the other person, talk to him to apologize.
Don't say " but " to justify your actions. Use the word "and" to explain the reason for your action. For example, "I'm sorry for grimacing when you said you had autism and I don't know the meaning of autism. I'm sorry to have offended you and I want us to stay friends." This step will help you provide an explanation without practicing self-justification.
Step 9. Respect the other person even if he doesn't respect you
Although this is difficult to do, remain patient and humble so that you become a person worthy of imitation. If someone is being rude or mean to you, protect yourself, but don't go down on yourself by showing the same attitude.
Method 3 of 3: Respect Yourself
Step 1. Show respect for people in authority
Certain people deserve special respect because of their position or title, such as principals, employers, church leaders, governors, kings, or queens. They are appointed as leaders because they are able to present themselves as dignified people who deserve respect. Show them respect according to proper etiquette, such as addressing the emperor as "Your Majesty" or bowing when meeting the queen.
- Older people should also be given special respect. Show respect for your parents, grandparents and older members of the community because they have more valuable experience and knowledge.
- Make sure you are able to identify people who deserve special respect. If someone does something disgraceful that doesn't deserve respect, you are free to make up your mind. Sometimes, by rejecting that person's leadership, you actually respect yourself and the subordinates who are affected by it.
Step 2. Don't abuse your authority
If you are the leader, show respect for those who trust you by being polite and kind to them. Don't demand that they respect you when you're in a leadership position. Be an exemplary leader, instead of making your subordinates respect you out of necessity.
Step 3. Respect yourself
You are a valuable person and deserve respect. Therefore, treat yourself as you would treat a friend. Every time you think negatively about yourself or want to do something self-defeating, imagine the impact it would have on a friend. Remember that you are your best friend.
"Putting others first" is a good principle, but apply it realistically. Make sure you prioritize meeting your own primary needs (food, sleep, mental health) because you can help others when your own needs are met
Step 4. Become a person who is able to empathize and love others
In order for you to be able to sincerely respect others, imagine that you are experiencing what they are feeling and try to understand their perspective. You can be polite to others without feeling concerned, but genuine respect develops when you are able to empathize, which means being able to feel what the other person is feeling. Try to realize that everyone is connected to each other and the earth is our common home. Mutual respect is a way of establishing good relationships with others so that the world becomes a comfortable and pleasant place to live for everyone.
Tips
- The right way to show respect is to empathize or feel connected to another person. When he speaks, show genuine respect by listening to what he has to say and then giving intelligent, helpful responses wholeheartedly. Everyone wants to be heard and what they say is appreciated.
- Showing respect lets others know that you value yourself too, not just others. The most important aspect of being able to respect others is the ability to respect yourself. Otherwise, other people will not respect you.
- When talking to someone, look him in the eye with a friendly look.
- Remember that the words you speak can affect those around you. Before speaking, imagine that you are in the other person's shoes and hear him tell you what you want to say to him.
