Marion's Blog

Respect

Business, if you like, is a world reflecting all of the values we maintain in society as a whole – but a little more so. We are politer, keep our word, show up on time for meetings and maintain our agreements and show understanding for differences of opinion.

At least, I thought so. I thought that doing business, particularly if you talk about international business – meant that everyone would stick to those “rules of engagement”. But since we have started this website, and I started writing a blog on Fitness*, I have learnt differently. I have found that there are plenty of people out there with their own views – great. What is not so great is that there seems to be little respect with regards to other people’s views as those opinions are voiced using many words my mother wouldn’t even recognise, let alone condone.

It makes me wonder why – have we become so intolerant of one another that we feel we cannot even voice our opinion in a normal way? Are we not taught the right language in schools around the globe? Or is there a certain arrogance that makes us feel that above all, we are absolutely right and therefore we can say what we like, in any wording that we like without taking the least bit of notice of hurting the other person’s feelings or beliefs. I am not talking politics here, by the way, I am still talking business although of course many of the above applies outside of our entrepreneurial world too.

In the N-Factor, our book on using networking successfully in business, we let authors from around the world share their own culture’s view on networking, on interacting with their culture and how to do it successfully. It means taking note of differences and it means also putting aside your own beliefs so you can treat those of the country you wish to do business in with the respect it deserves. It is that putting aside of your own beliefs that so many of us seem to find very hard. When I lived in the Middle East, I would defer to local customs and wear long-sleeved, long-legged clothing. Why? Not because it meant I could be deported if I did not, but also because you simply understand that people might take offense if you don’t. You are visiting their country after all.

It is the same in our newly founded Internet-world, whether you are physically in front of someone or virtually – you show understanding for the beliefs on that site or you simply don’t visit. Whilst I feel strongly that everyone is entitled to their likes and dislikes, tastes and views – I would argue that if we cannot maintain that Respect for one another in our business environment, we haven’t got a hope in hell to do it in the rest of our lives.

I wish you all wisdom and happiness in the year to come and hope you will find richness in your experiences and encounters.

* If you are interested in Health & Fitness, I respectfully invite you to read my blogs on www.marionfreijsen.com