“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”
— Bryant H. McGill
Every human longs to be heard.
By staying quiet and listening to what the other person has to say, you are subconsciously signalling to them that you are willing to set aside your desire to speak in favour of theirs. It not only makes them feel respected but also compels them to respect you in return.
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
— Lao Tzu
The vast majority of people try to fit in with the crowd. They copy what’s popular and are constantly switching from one trend to the next.
Be one of the few that stand out.
If you like something, embrace it
If you believe in something, say it
If you want to do something, do it
People will recognize your courage and respect you for it.
“Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.”
— Tecumseh
You never know what someone else is going through, so show everyone respect by default.
BUT you should never bow to anyone, literally or figuratively speaking. Deliberately making yourself look weak doesn’t win you any favour, it turns people off.
People respect confidence. You don’t need to act cocky or embellish, but you do need to act like someone who knows their worth.