"Treat everyone the same, whether they are the CEO of the company or the custodian that cleans your office at night."
In my short 21 years of life, this is the single most important advice I have learned when it comes to being in the workplace.
During my internship over the fall, my supervisor Karamarie Joyce was always full of wisdom, and this advice that she gave me one day was nothing short of perfection. It is something that travels through my mind almost every single day as it has proven to be so powerful.
In a world where you get far by knowing someone, it is important to always be kind to everyone. You never know what person could help you in the long run when your up for a promotion or a new position all together. Never count anyone out when it comes to who can help you in the future.
But being kind to everyone isn't just about getting on top, it's also because everyone is human. We all have emotions and all deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. No one deserves to be talked down to, and no one deserves to be treated like their role doesn't matter. Everyone deserves the right to be regarded as a person.
You could also learn a lot from someone who you would not normally interact with. Maybe you don't usually go down to the mail room in your building, but the mail clerk has the most interesting stories about the past. Or maybe you never bother asking your successful boss how their week has been going, but really they are just stressed about things going on in their personal life. Talking to all those around you can teach you a lot about life. People are full of life lessons, just as Karamarie was, so it is always important to go out of your way to interact with those around you everyday.
You may also be making this person's day. To the people that you don't usually communicate with or who you may usually treat properly, they might look up to you or maybe they're used to being treated poorly. You may be the shining light at the end of the tunnel for them. And better yet, if you start treating them properly then others will follow your lead.
Overall, we should treat everyone the same. We are able to help ourselves and others by doing so. It doesn't matter where they fall on the workplace totem pole, all that matters is that they are human, and who knows, they may even help you land that promotion.
