Respect is Reciprocal

A daily scene on the road :  Biker gets embarrassed at slow moving cars, which do not allow him to move forward.  Blames easy availability of car loans that makes anybody buy cars and get on the roads and drive with ‘L’ boards.  The person driving Car curses the biker for the latter’s sharp cuts and turns, which makes his driving miserable. Bicyclist wants a safe lane for himself, on the otherwise unsafe road, so that he can rush to his destination asap.  Worse still is the position of the pedestrians, when the walk-ways are encroached by roadside shops and vehicles threaten their lives, curse the governance for indifference. Road discipline is one phrase which means mutual respect for all vehicle-drivers and pedestrians.

On similar lines, we need to practice respect in the work-place, with mutual respect for one another’s roles in the organizational growth.

An accountant feels he is the only one working for the organizational growth, when rest of the members are draining funds through wasteful expenses.  If he has respect for operations, he will not delay payments on the pretext of policies and processes.  He extends hostilities through the tricks on formulating new policies, which purportedly is to highlight his presence in the organization.  The entire organization is aware that to enforce fiscal discipline there are age-old lessons on jurisprudence which are waiting only to be implemented.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.  What is required is to respect the stakes of other stake-holders and facilitate smooth conduct of business while enforcing such discipline.  If everything is in place and ‘as per policy’, then why would we need so many ‘managers’.

On the contrary, the operations also have to respect the book-keeper’s perspective and act more responsibly.  Disrespect to the Rule-book will land the total business in severe jeopardy, causing embarrassment in the face of audit as well as the investors.  Due caution and prudence has to be exercised regularly, failing which, the stakeholders might face bigger challenges to prove their integrity. Even when things aren’t done with any bad intent.

In all, respect is available on a reciprocal basis be it on the road or inside the work-place.