Taking the High Road

Growing up I heard that it was better to take the high road, by which my mother meant don’t sink to the same level as the people who bullied, cheated or took short cuts. It was not an easy lesson to hold on to in high school or college. It seemed so unfair at times that others were getting ahead while I was taking the long way around. I did learn that it didn’t pay to go low, at least for me.

My definition of taking the high road is to treat others with respect and behave professionally in all situations. This is hard when the people around you aren’t acting the same way.

In several jobs I had to deal with bullies as well as navigating the mine field of well-connected co-workers who would take undue credit via shortcuts. These situations created experiences that were toxic for me and yet I couldn’t throw in the towel quickly. So, I stuck to the high road and even though nothing really changed I could feel good about my behavior.

Here are 4 reasons for sticking to the high road:

1. Self-respect. I’m not proud to admit there were a few occasions where I reacted poorly and lashed out in anger. I then regretted my behavior and beat myself up for ages over the lapse. I didn’t want to become one of the jerks. When I held my head high and behaved professionally, I felt better about who I am. At the end of the day I could look back and say, I was true to my values even when others were jerks.
2. Integrity. When you stick to the high road you are being true to you. Consistently respectful, professional behavior is visible to those around you and it teaches them how you will act. They learn that you will do what you say and act with integrity.
3. Trust. If you are always respectful and professional people will see it in your actions. They will begin to trust you. It comes from knowing how you will respond in any situation. People who bully, berate and belittle others can be trusted to stab you in the back and do not get the cooperation or support of their co-workers. They can’t be trusted to help anyone but themselves. I valued the collaboration in my teams, so trust was necessary.
4. Respect of others. When you have people’s trust and you act with integrity you gain their respect. Taking the high road allows others to see that your behavior is predictable, consistent and professional. They don’t have to worry about what your mood is, how will you respond to bad news or what you will do when things get tough – they already know. This leads to their respect. They know you will be there, that they can count on you and they will have your back. The jerks, no matter how good their results are, don’t have the respect of others. They use fear and intimidation to get results. No one truly respects a person who uses those tactics.

We are in challenging times right now; people are struggling with tough choices and are exhausted by the turmoil in our world. If we take the high road, treat people with respect, be kind, lend a hand and focus on what really matters, we will leave a bit of positivity behind in each encounter. The world needs more positivity in it, which can come from small everyday acts. Look at how you can share the good throughout your day. You have a choice in what you do, taking the high road can be hard and yet you will be rewarded in the long run.