Robin Goodall, M.Ed.

Robin’s take on respect is that it has a lot to do with courtesy. When her colleagues take the time to be inclusive, she perceives that as critical to demonstrating respect. A benefit of a respectful environment is creating a space for coworkers to celebrate accomplishments and feel safe to identify and address problems.

An easy way for people to show appreciation in the workplace, according to Robin, is to say thank you and to share their appreciation with others. It’s especially useful if those expressions of thanks are specific about what the contributions have been. That really shows a sincere appreciation and recognition of someone’s work. Similarly, there is a respectful way to share concerns by speaking to the issue and not the individual. By not making it personal, coworkers can discuss concerns more respectfully.

Robin feels that having her supervisor model respectful behavior has a huge impact on her work, making her feel like her supervisor is paying attention regularly, not just when there may be areas of concern. It’s a good feeling to Robin when her supervisor understands the nature of her work and appreciates its challenges. The confidence that comes from a respectful supervisor allows for “healthy” risk-taking and increased ability to do good work. Robin also sees that modeling as enabling high-functioning creativity too.