Every interaction is an emotional exchange—a deposit or withdrawal.

"Reliable respect" creates reserves that help us navigate difficult moments.

Repeated disrespect can become so familiar that we stop recognizing its impact.

Disrespect can change us more than we realize.

Sometimes it’s obvious. Other times it happens in moments that seem too small to matter—being repeatedly interrupted before we finish a thought, having an idea dismissed without consideration, or realizing that our perspective was requested but never really valued. We may become a little less likely to speak the next time or a little more cautious about offering an idea. We may even begin to question whether what we have to contribute matters.

The opposite can happen, too—a teacher who believes in us at precisely the right moment, a colleague or leader who takes the time to listen, or someone who sees potential in us when we are struggling to see it ourselves. Each of these moments may seem ordinary, yet each can influence what happens next, and over time, who we become.

Through my experiences, I have become increasingly curious about what shapes these moments and what happens next. It's a question I've explored in my work and in my TEDx talk, "The Ripple Effect of Respect." In operating rooms, classrooms, boardrooms, and everyday life, I've noticed how small interactions shape the emotional climate around us, how willing people are to engage, and what they feel able to contribute, particularly when moments of respect—or disrespect—are repeated and become so familiar that we no longer recognize their impact.

Beyond Status and........

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