Lately I hear many people complain about the younger generations. They are not respectful.
They don’t follow the rules. They don’t know how to behave in a professional environment.
Every time I hear this, something inside me raises an eyebrow. Because before we ask where respect has gone, maybe we should ask a quieter, sharper question: How are we behaving?
In conversations with leaders of every age, I’ve noticed a pattern: Many of us who call ourselves the “older” or “more experienced” generation speak about respect as something others should show. But we don’t always look at how we model it ourselves.
We talk about respect, but how often do we interrupt someone just because we can?
We say we value people, but how often do we rush past someone’s words because their style doesn’t match ours?
We insist on politeness, yet many of our decisions are driven less by values and more by interest, convenience or power.
I often meet leaders who are respectful in their hearts but impatient in their behavior. I meet talented young professionals who are deeply committed but communicate differently. And I meet organizations where the person in the official position is not the real problem. Sometimes the real issue lives in the shadows around them – the culture, the habits, the unspoken rules, the “this is how we’ve always done it.”
Respect is not only about individuals. It is also about the atmosphere we create.
The world has changed. Work has changed. Relationships have changed. We keep saying “people are different now,” but perhaps they are not worse. Maybe they are simply shaped by a new landscape.
Younger generations expect transparency, fairness, and humanity. They are quicker to question authority not because they lack respect, but because they’ve grown up in a world where blind obedience has cost too much.
So, where is respect now?
- It is in how we listen, especially when we disagree.
- It is in how we select people, not by who looks ready on paper, but by who is ready to do and move others.
- It is in how we show up when no one is watching.
Respect is not outdated. It is simply evolving. And maybe the question isn’t “What’s wrong with the younger generation?” Maybe the question is “Are we willing to update our own way of leading?”
