“Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. This is a command and principle I have heard over and over again since I was a little girl and I have even repeated the saying. You can repeat a principle verbally without really understanding how to execute the principle in day to day interactions. Earlier this week as I was sitting at my desk, a thought came to mind about this principle and soon thereafter a phrase came to mind: the art of treating people well. As I look back through my formal education, spiritual upbringing, and even professional development, I noted that there was NEVER a class or course offered or an extended emphasis on how to treat people. I believe our society equates this as a principle that should be taught in the child rearing years.

Most service oriented businesses are employing some type of training around this topic. The sheer nature of customer interfacing and the desire to deliver exceptional service has economic implications. People like great service and will pay for great service. But how many individuals have the desire to become artful masters at treating people well just because? How many have embraced this as a way of leading in life? As I further contemplated this topic I looked to those who I admire who in my opinion were/are great leaders (Jesus, Mother Teresa, Oprah, and a list of others) and found that one of the common things they were exceptional at was treating people well. I could give countless examples. Be it through their service, philanthropy, or teachings, at the root of it is love and a desire to treat others exceptionally regardless of whether they deserve it. As we aspire to lead brilliantly, let us not forget the strength and brilliance of serving, loving, generously giving, forgiving, and impacting others because we simply treat them the way we would treat ourselves.