“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university” ~ Albert Einstein
Equality and respect and acknowledgement are in the details, the every-day-ness of life.
If you thought everyone you met today was really your CEO in disguise, would you interact differently?
If you knew the person taking your Starbucks order was really the President of a near-by University, would you speak to him/her with more respect?
If you knew the Pope or the Dalai Lama (or insert name of someone you admire greatly) was coming to your home, would you clean it more thoroughly than usual?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above (come on, you know the last one gotcha’) you suffer from 3PD: A personality disorder characterized by the tendency to defer to and grovel in front of Power, Prestige, or Position without question or reason.
It’s like walking into a patch of poison ivy: you get all itchy all over.
Fortunately, it’s not terminal, just tedious, and can be cured be applying the following antidote.
But first, in order to activate, you must understand that all external power is temporal, all prestige transient, and position, temporary. (Just ask Bernie Madoff. Or Steven Harper.)
Antidote: Treat everyone you meet today as your equal, someone who is as important as you in disguise.
Applied daily, this approach can promote a life-long immunity to 3PD. Non coincidentally, this turns out to be a common characteristic of successful long-term leaders.
We’ve all been around someone who changes when someone they deem “important” enters the room; this swell person you liked up until that moment turns into a fawning flatterer you no longer know. Or you’ve done it yourself, acquiesced all over yourself.
That’s because succumbing to the 3 P’s because of their “P”ness, (read that however you like) can turn you into a sycophantic dick, regardless of your gender.
So stop sucking up and start speaking up, because real power has nothing to do with position or prestige, it’s about inspiration, influence and impact.
Not speaking up under the illusion that it shows respect is a convenient excuse.
Real leaders like people who will challenge them, not kowtow to them.
Besides, when you develop immunity to 3PD, the itching stops.
“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
