You Teach People How to Treat You

"YOU TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT YOU."

I ran across this quote on LinkedIn last week as Melody Wilding discussed her message at a recent conference. I wrote it on my whiteboard for inspiration for the upcoming week and kept thinking about it. It is a great reminder for me this week as I continue the journey of creating my own business.

This quote also gave me a whole new perspective on Shrek when I moved out my laptop to work with my 3 year old at lunch time. At the beginning of the movie, Shrek thinks only about himself and acts to protect his own interests - so everyone treats him as a villain. Later, he begins behaviors that benefit him and the other fair tale creatures - and he is surprised by the cheers. By doing something for others, he gains positive respect instead of fear.  

We can all behave in a way that shows respect to ourselves and provides boundaries to our interactions with others. Some thoughts I'm taking into the next week. 

Speaking Up:  One of the biggest challenges out there as a person, as an  entrepreneur, as a parent is speaking up.  This isn't about commandeering any conversation, but instead about showing that I care and deserve to be cared about. I can ask my daughter's teacher about the assignments that are missed when she is home sick and be an active participant in the classroom. I can share my opinion on that LinkedIn thread, rather than holding back. I can take time at the grocery store to talk with the cashier and make them smile in their day too.

Being True to Myself in my Interactions: I don't like rocking the boat. It's easier to say what people expect rather than what I'm thinking. One of the hardest things I've done in my career is be willing to say "this isn't working". Sometimes those conversations go wellk, sometimes they don't - but it's important to learn from them. I know at the end of the day I look back and feel better for speaking up and staying true - than by following the flow. And I know I have respect from my colleagues. 

Stop Hiding Behind Questions: I don't want to be seen as a "know-it-all." That's a label that can sting - so I tend to always hide my true opinion. Instead of saying "We should register in Alabama because of inventory concerns", it can be easier to say, "What do you think about registering in Alabama. You may be hitting a nexus threshold." Showing belief in myself helps others know me and respect me. 

Those are my thoughts and actions to take moving forward. I will show the confidence and respect to myself that I want to receive from those around me.