Book Review: The Power of respect

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, the publishers of The Power of Respect: Benefit from the Most Forgotten Element of Success, by Deborah Norville. For giving me the opportunity of reviewing a free copy of this book.

This book attracted my attention simple because of the title, everyone but everyone seems to think they have the monopoly on respect and that it is others who show a lack of respect in whatever area of life it happens to be, one of my pet issues is the way that some of the older generation seem to think that ‘the younger folk of today have no respect’ now whereas this MAY be true it is equally true that respect is earned and not automatic, therefore we have to ask why don’t young people respect people.

I found it intriguing a few years ago in a Q&A session we were asked to name some causes for a breakdown in the fabric of society and I said ‘lack of respect’ the person conducting the session immediately talked about the lack of respect youngsters have for older folk, whereas I had meant a general lack of respect from one human being to another, not specifically young towards old but the other way around too. I felt that his response was actually disrespectful to younger folk in itself.

It is also worth noting that my experience, with having my son in a wheelchair, is that it is, by and large, younger people who are more likely to hold doors open or leap up to help when they see us struggling, not exclusively but certainly we have had more offers of help from younger people, youths, than we have those of my parents kind of age. That is not to criticise my parents generation just to say that our younger folk are not as bad as some might make them out to be, especially when they are treated with respect.

Anyhow, that brings us neatly back on track with this book, the author, Deborah Norville, says several times in this book, that she considers the power of respect to be instrumental and powerful in many areas of life.

to quote from the inside sleeve of the book:

Want to get the respect you deserve? Try giving it.

Respect is power – and not just the respect you receive. The respect you give to others i vital to success in every area of life.

In Business:

• Higher Sales
• Lower employee turnover
• Less exposure to lawsuits

At home:

• A stronger marriage
• Healthier family dynamics
• More polite children

In your personal life:

• More self respect and confidence
• Closer friendships
• Higher standing in the community

Norville sets out a whole host of work and personal circumstances where the power of respect can be used to powerfully influence the situations and environments in which you find yourself, she cites many examples and testimonies of people who have seen the transformation in work places, in schools & colleges, in personal lives, that can be achieve through exercising the power of respect.

Much of what she talks about I would agree with wholeheartedly although I would not have necessarily considered it to be respect, but she is right, in that if we as human beings had more respect for other human beings the world would be a lot nicer place.

I would certainly recommend this book for anyone who finds themselves in a difficult or stressful situation, where there seems to be a lack of respect, in their own personal or work situation, as it has some very important and powerful principles to impart the reader.

Although this book is published by a Christian publishing house it is not a specifically christian book and people of any faith, or none, would be equally comfortable reading it and get much from it.