The Golden Rule is Wrong
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 - Joe Kiedinger
When I discovered how our human dignity connects us, I was so fascinated that I needed to keep researching and talking about it. That’s why I started my podcast, The Dignity Dialogue.
You see, while we live in an incredibly divided world right now, we have so much more in common than you think. We spend so much time picking apart our religious, political, racial and ideological differences and trying to impress upon others why our perspective is the best. But in focusing on our differences we’re missing what we share. Dignity.
So, let’s dig into that. What is dignity exactly? Merriam Webster defines it a “the quality or state of being worthy of honor and respect.” It’s the one thing that threads us all together. We all want to be treated with respect. The trick is understanding that each of us has our own unique dignity.
Think of the Golden Rule: treat others like you’d like to be treated. But, there’s a caveat. You see, we all feel dignified and respected in different ways. You asked your associate Michelle to give a spur-of-the-moment update in your all-company meeting. She rose to the occasion and beamed with pride because she was asked to share. You did the very same with your associate Ben and he was visibly stressed and had little to say because he thrives on careful preparation.
So, how do I find out what my associates find dignifying? That’s where the patented Dignify® tool comes in—it has done all the work in identifying what motivates each unique individual. And it’s just one of the tools we employ in our rich Organizational Health program.
JOE KIEDINGER
ACTION PLAN: Listen in! My most recent podcast, which just came out, features a business-consultant-turned-friend, Mark Freier. Mark is one of those wise souls that you could listen to for hours as he reveals one philosophical gem after another. I guarantee you will walk away inspired and looking at life in a whole new way!