In my life, I have flown a lot. A lot! Statistically, I have flown more than 99.9% of the world’s population (feels crazy, but I looked into it and it appears to be true), having millions of miles flown. With that, I have seen countless safety demonstrations.
So, recently I was on a flight I take regularly, sitting in the front row, right next to the crew member giving the safety demonstration. When they did so, I took off my headphones and paid attention until they were finished. Why did I do this when I knew the contents of that safety demonstration by heart? Out of respect for the crew doing their job.
Meanwhile, next to me sat a young man who blithely watched social media videos with his headphones on all the way through the safety announcement. Hmm. Now, when we stood up, our bags had been moved within the overhead locker. Without me asking, and with a big smile, he helped me get my bags down from the far end of the overhead bin.
As a fellow passenger, he showed me respect and care, though he had not, at all, shown the same respect to the flight crew earlier. Consciously or unconsciously he made a distinction between us.
I believe in showing respect to others doing their work, whatever that work is, whoever they are.
I wrote of this on this blog over five years ago in “How you do anything – a Leaders angle“, which I repeat here verbatim for emphasis.
“How you do anything… is how you do everything”
Or, as a way to observe this in yourself and others, watch how people treat those who they feel don’t matter to them.
When you are in busy public places? do they act in a considerate way to others or just push past in a single-minded fashion?
In a restaurant, how do they treat the staff?
Do they thank the bus driver when they get off the bus?
In general, are they present, observant to other human beings, no matter their station or status?
Now, for leaders, be very wary.
If you are in a position of influence or authority, you will find that people are respectful towards you the great majority of the time, but is this a true assessment of their character?
if you have any doubt at all, look to spend time with those people in environments where you can assess how they behave when they aren’t making a conscious effort to impress you.
“How you do anything… is how you do everything”