The art of communication: As I was reflecting this morning on the idea of titles and their importance, I came to an interesting realization – something I’ve lived by all my life without ever putting it into words.
It’s not the title that holds true value; it’s the respect we have for the person behind it. Whether someone is the President of the United States, the Chair of a political party or a janitor, if they’ve earned my respect, I will listen. We may not always agree, sometimes we may see things entirely differently, but that doesn’t take away the respect that opens the door to real understanding.
In the end, it’s our own respect how we choose to see and value others—that shapes our lives the most. It determines how we learn, how we listen, and how we interact with people from every walk of life.
This is why it is so critical to treat others with respect, just as you would want to be treated with the same respect. If you do not treat others respectfully, you cannot expect to be treated with respect in return. Respect is the foundation of progress, as it opens the door to communication and understanding between people.
The next question to ponder is: how does one gain the respect of others?
One does not gain respect by having two county commissioners under recall, a county treasurer who resigned, and a county employee under investigation. Nor does one gain respect when a city council shows signs of corruption, with at least one council member under an ethics investigation and another facing criticism for potential bias in a homeless grant selection. All this occurring within less than a year of being elected, and with significant help and support from the former chair of the Republican Party, demonstrates the exact opposite of how to build trust, respect, and effective communication with the community.
