I have never known anyone who can implement sustainable change without showing respect to the people going through the change. I firmly believe that respect for others is the foundation for being an effective change agent. People can smell insincerity from a mile away. To influence change, show respect!
Respect starts with your belief that each person going through the change is on equal footing with you as a human being. That their participation matters. That they are individually worth the investment in time and money. And that they are capable of making the change.
Treat people like they want to be treated. Involve people, not as a necessary evil, but because the organization will be better for their participation. When you encounter inevitable resistance, attribute it not to their being difficult, but to reasonable reactions to the forces of change. Every person has the potential to make a contribution. Treat them all as if they matter – because they do!
How might you show respect?
Read more of the 99 Ways to Influence Change.
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