With all due respect

In our society, there is a silent understanding amongst people, that you need to be mindful in your actions, because even if you think it's just about you, it touches at least another.

Take managing people, for example. If you are a people manager, at least 50% of your time will (have to) be spent on people issues, whether it be professional or personal. The tough part comes when your management style and your own manager's are different. It is then when both of you would have to respect each other's, because there is no right and only one way of managing: it can work for some, but not others; it can drive some crazy, or drive the objective home; it can be motivating, or discouraging. In the end, it's about both parties 'managing' each other, and respecting how each goes about accomplishing tasks or overcoming issues, and that they do not have to agree on the how.

The sticky part can come when one or both does not realise the line between who begins and who ends: the overlap. Not only can it send a confusing message for the other people who might also be involved or caught in the cross-fire, it creates easily avoidable conflict should one have identified the roles and objectives of each from the very beginning.

1. Never assume the other person knows what you're thinking.
2. There is no such thing as too much clarification.
3. Not everyone has the same way of communicating nor does everyone solve problems the way you do.

Everybody grew up in different environments, surrounded by people who have influenced them in ways others might have never been influenced.

Remember that.

Personal or professional.