PLA Podcast Episode#4 | September 2023
«Respect, all I'm askin' for is a little respect» sings Aretha Franklin, echoing the desire shared by many in our fast-paced, efficiency-driven digital workplaces.
In an enlightening episode of the Partnering Leadership Academy podcast, I had the privilege of interviewing Barbara Zehnder and Daniel Senn, esteemed international courtesy experts and coaches. They are the founders of International Courtesy Competence Ltd., an organization that trains future Swiss diplomats and business leaders, among others.
Respect, once considered a given, is no longer guaranteed. It is, in fact, on the decline. We often find ourselves too caught up in the busyness of life to express it, lacking inspiring role models, or struggling to adapt our expressions of respect to evolving digital and cultural contexts.
Ironically, respect serves as a vital foundation for productive professional partnerships and fuels open dialogue, problem-solving, and innovative solutions.
Join us in this engaging conversation as we explore how etiquette, a formal approach to promoting politeness, nurtures a respectful atmosphere. It creates a space where even the most challenging issues can be raised and discussed.
Here's a key insight I gained from the discussion: Etiquette is not merely about pleasing others or ignoring existing problems. It ensures a level of mutual respect that empowers you to address and resolve difficult issues effectively. Through this approach, the likelihood of finding solutions that benefit everyone greatly increases, replacing destructive battles or wars with constructive outcomes.
If you associate etiquette with outdated rules of conduct held by people who resist change, I invite you to tune into this podcast episode. Discover the transformative power of etiquette to consciously foster mutual respect, particularly in today's dynamic and ever-shifting environment.
If you would like to learn more about Barbara Zehnders and Daniel Senn’s work, you are welcome to visit their website or contact them directly over LinkedIn: Barbara Zehnder and Daniel Senn.
Here you can order their NEW book “How to Meet, Host & Dress – Stylish and successful wherever you go” in English (out on 25 September 2023)
Find their book “Meeting, Dining, Dresscodes” in German here
If you’d like to learn more about the 18 partnering leadership principles and how to set up constructive partnering routines in meetings, feel welcome to explore the PLA offering and specifically our free partnering meeting templates and guides.
Here you can access the mentioned PLA blogpost on the “Worth remembering: The relational power of four transformative words”
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