In a recent message in our church, the speaker voiced the following truth: respect is never forced, it is always earned.
Think about that for a minute.
No matter how hard we try, we can’t make people respect or trust us. While it may not be put in so many words, this is at the core of how Social Media works, and is much of what Chris Brogan and Julien Smith talk about in Trust Agents.
We can sell. We can browbeat. We can push. But we can’t force people to like or respect us.
But, we can become “trust agents.” By the way we live our lives and treat the members of our communities, we can earn respect. If others choose to respect us, it is because they see something in us that is respect-worthy.
As active members of a community…as a member who gives…selflessly, people will learn to respect us.
If all you do is sell to people, they won’t respect you. But if we interact, engage, and give selflessly, people will notice. It’s all a matter of perspective and how we live our lives.
As businesses and organizations, we can’t just expect customers and prospective customers to respect us. We need to earn it through how we treat them, how we engage, and how we create quality products or services.
Turn conventional wisdom upside down. It’s not about us, our business, or our product. It’s about the customer.
How do you choose your friends? Are you attracted to the people who are trying to sell to you? Or the people who are helpful and giving?
How are you engaging your customers and treating them? Are you earning respect?
