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Conversations in Management

Herbert Henry Lehman

I must respect the opinions of others even if I disagree with them.

Lehman was born on March 28, 1878 in New York City to German immigrant parents. The family ran a cotton brokerage business and after graduating from college in 1899, Lehman went to work for a textile manufacturing firm. Though he later joined the family business— now transformed into an investment banking house—it was his early experience in the textile industry that brought him into contact with Franklin Delano Roosevelt during World War I. It was a fortuitous meeting for all involved and Leman would spend the rest of his life closely aligned with both Franklin and Eleanor. Following the war he became active in New York politics and in 1928 became lieutenant governor on a ticket headed by Roosevelt. When FDR ran for president, Lehman became governor in his own right and held the office until 1942. Those were busy years for Lehman. By first slashing taxes, he converted a deficit into a substantial surplus while implementing a spirited program of labor reform and utilities regulation. Tapped by Roosevelt for service during World War II, he became Director General of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. In 1949 he successfully ran for the Senate and remained for one term. Those were the turbulent years fostered by Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Lehman was among the first to challenge McCarthy’s excesses and put an end to what had become a national witch hunt. He remained politically active after leaving the Senate and in 1959, along with Eleanor Roosevelt, was instrumental in finally unseating the corrupt Tammany Hall political machine. Lehman knew politics. And he also knew that respect was a prerequisite for success in politics and, for that matter, everywhere else.

Respect is a simple concept, but it’s one which most of us struggle with on a pretty regular basis. We all know that we’re supposed to respect our families, authority (often one and the same!) and the rights and opinions of others. Yet actually doing this is often problematic. That’s because the world is populated with people whose bizarre ideas are not only totally wrong, but at complete odds with our own! How is it possible to respect opinions—or for that matter the individuals suggesting them—that might charitably be described as, whackadoodle?

One way to start is to acknowledge that what’s whackadoodle to you might be sublime insight to someone else. That’s not to suggest that all opinions are equally valid, justified or right. It’s simply the recognition that in this world of ours, there are a lot of different ways of looking at things. If you want to avoid groupthink or the shrill divisiveness of today’s political discourse, you’ll need to approach the issues with an open heart and mind. If you operate in a spirit of goodwill and resist the urge to confuse issues with individuals you’ll find your own perspective broadening. You’ll discover your opinions have new depth and you’ll sense a growing confidence in your ability to navigate life’s waters.

Respect is all about honoring the other person. It’s the frank admission that our own experience is no more authentic than anyone else’s. But respect is also a gift. We can freely bestow or withhold it. We should, however, withhold it rarely and only for cause. Because, when we generously give it to another, it becomes the foundation for a strong, enduring, positive relationship. It fosters trust and promotes harmony. The choice is ours. Let’s choose wisely.

—Ebert