Honor – What It Is and What It’s Not – Part Four of Five

In this fourth part in the series I want to address something that is a simple concept, but most of us don’t often use it.

When you make a mistake or don’t do something wholeheartedly, how do you want people to treat you?  Do you enjoy it if they ream into you?  Do you like to be humiliated in front of others for your faults?  No, of course not.  Well other people don’t like it either.

So the next time someone under your watch, whether it is a child or  a co-worker or anybody else, makes a mistake, try this.  Ask them how they feel about what just happened.  Ask them what they think could have been done differently.  Their answers will enable you to ask more questions.  Help that person to come to their own conclusions and realize what the proper answer or solution is.

Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish, feed him for a lifetime.  This rings true in so many areas including showing honor to one another.  If you scold someone for their faults and mistakes and point out what they should have done, they will have a hard time learning the lesson that you want them to learn.  They may resent you and start to build up a bad attitude.

But if you honor them by asking them questions, it gives them the opportunity to maintain their dignity and come up with the solution.  They will be much more ready to listen to you again next time because you showed them honor and respect.  It is a very simple process but people don’t often use it because they would rather let off steam.  That shows a lack of maturity.

In addition to this process, you could sandwich correction with compliments.  For example:  Hey you are doing a great job on this / Maybe next time you could try doing such and such / I really like the way you handled that project.

Always be quick to give praise.  You love it yourself, and so do others.

So the next time someone lets you down or does something wrong, show them honor by asking them questions and let them realize their own faults.