A great Ed moment from Deborah Tyson:
There is some version of The Golden Rule in every religion. I'm currently trying to teach it to my 5 year old, in the hopes that she becomes a human that cares about others (doesn't currently) Essentially it is about treating others as you'd want to be treated - in a nutshell, empathy.
We start to develop empathy around age 5 and it grows over time as our brains continue to develop - sometimes it's not complete until age 20!
As adults, our brains are fully developed and we hopefully learned empathy while we were growing up.
How does The Golden Rule apply at BNI?
Most of us want to treat others well and with respect just because it's the right thing to do. In this context, who wants to refer business to and build a relationship with people they feel disrespected by?
Some things to consider:
- Phones – We are all VERY important… and that dopamine hit we get from our phones is real. But…..please put your phone away and be present to other members in the room – build respect, build trust and relationships with other members. It doesn’t feel good to be the person being ignored. And, who wants to refer business to someone who doesn’t show them respect, courtesy and attention?
- Welcome new members and visitors to our meeting by engaging and connecting with them. How do you feel when you are in a room full of strangers? Wouldn’t it make you feel so cared for to be engaged in a conversation with another member rather than feeling awkward and out of place? Wouldn’t it make you think of that person as top notch and first class? First impressions matter – as a human and a business person.
- Speak to people as you’d want to be spoken to. Most people respond best when treated with kindness and respect. Think first, speak second. Filters are a good thing.
The Golden Rule - a timeless classic!
