6 Action Steps You can Take to Command Respect from Others

Walking in your TRUTH is more than just a change in your actions, it is a change in your very MINDSET. As I guide my clients through their lessons in my course, we often approach this topic. How can I get people to treat me in a way that I deserve to be treated? or What can I do right now to get people to see me in a better light? So I've decided to make this list to help you all get started. For more in-depth and one-on-one coaching to help improve the quality of your life, book a no-cost consult here to get the conversation started.

In today's society, respect is often seen as an afterthought. With millions of college educated professionals treating the cast of "reality TV shows" and "corrupt politicians" as their role models, respect is often taken for granted or ignored as an important part of the way we live.

However, you can earn respect from the people you interact with every day. The actions you take do make a difference.

Use these ideas to command and receive the respect you know you deserve:

1. Carry yourself in a respectable manner. Act in a manner that communicates to others that you should be taken seriously. Consider your conduct and act with tact in all circumstances.

• Carry yourself with pride. Act in a way that would make your parents proud of you. Refrain from taking part in something that you tell your children not to do.

• When you're a highly regarded person, people will automatically respect you. If you need to verbally ask for respect from others, either you're dealing with an immature person, or behaving in ways that cause others to respect you less.

2. Follow the golden rule. Treat others with respect and they'll treat you according to the tone you've set. Understand that everyone has boundaries that they expect you to respect. If you cross them intentionally, you're digging your own hole.

• Be the type of person that has no desire to "rag" on another person just to get your point across or to be acknowledged. If you need to commit such acts just to reach them, then these are the types of people you should consider "weeding" out of your life.

3. Start weeding. It's important to realize that some people simply think that they're above any moral laws. These types of people will do what they want, when they want and blurt out the thoughts in their mind with total disregard to the emotions of anyone else.

• Weed these toxic people out of your life. You are your very first priority. If you allow yourself to be treated unfairly by others, you're broadcasting that it's okay to treat you like a doormat.

4. Conduct yourself with class. Keep your head above the water in sticky situations. A calm conversation often serves your interests better than lashing out in anger. Always speak positively about your friends. You'll be admired as someone who refuses to gossip and win the trust of others.

• Make it a point to be aware of your actions and reactions, and think before you speak. When you do, you're indirectly commanding the respect that you deserve.

5. Be wise about your energy investment. If you cross paths with someone and you are aware that they have no desire to hear your position, let them be . It's important to understand that there will always be a group of people that do not care to be understanding of another person's point of view. Your safety is more important than forcing someone who doesn't care about you to hear your point.

• You can talk until you are red, blue, purple in the face and they may not ever care to listen. This will only serve to steal time away from the things you actually care about and the people who truly support you.

6. Achieve more. If you're promoted within your company for your high work ethic, or receive your PhD, your achievements warrant respect from others. Outstanding achievements are praised and respected.

• Consider continuing your education. It'll boost your self-esteem, income, and career achievements. Plus, it'll make others respect your dedication in achieving excellence.

• Consider applying for certification or becoming a credential holder within your chosen field of expertise. They cannot deny your credentials, nor the efforts you put forth to earn those credentials when you are backed by an stablished or well recognized organization. This act also helps to increase your access to helpful programs and other supportive organizations.

Remember, the easiest way to command respect from everyone around you is to be an honorable person. This is something that I have come to learn quite well. Being in the public eye as a Black transgender man, individuals who do not know me personally quite often create fantasies or stories to fill in the banks about what they believe. Many times, the information passed to those people is fed to them from a third party. Therefore, it holds true that you may not always be able to control the circumstances, but, you do have complete control over your own thoughts and actions.

Hold yourself and your actions to a high standard, and others will inherently be aware of the good person that you truly are. Leave the rest of that mess in the pits where the haters choose to lie.