The Way You Treat People

Four months ago, I was standing in line waiting to cash some items I picked up at the supermarket. A manager stopped one of the guys on the floor and said to him, in full view of everyone in the waiting area, “how could you forget the stuff I asked you for? You don’t use your brain.” I felt pretty awful for the guy because the lady’s tone was very disgusting, and anyone looking on saw the embarrassed look on his face.

According to Lolly Daskal, the moment you think you have the right to belittle others is the moment you prove you have no power. People tend to make others feel how they themselves feel, whether it’s great or small. The way a leader labels, judges, and values the people around them lets us glimpse into their personality and even their self-esteem.

Leaders who have high standards for themselves and others continually learn how to improve their performance and their team’s. They see opportunity in situations where others see setbacks and lead others positively to create an atmosphere of respect, helpfulness, and cooperation. On the other hand, people in leadership positions who always use negative and critical labels against people show their own inner emptiness and lack of self-esteem, which is extremely detrimental for any organization.