“Treat others as you would like others to treat you.”
Or “Don’t treat others in ways you wouldn’t like to be treated.”
The golden rule is an important moral and philosophical principle. Although formulated with a noble intention of treating others well, it has a major inherent bias.
By relating the treatment of others with how you want to be treated, it somewhat emphasises that your way is the ‘normal’ way of doing things.
And that’s where the problem starts. In business negotiations, personal relationships, projects and our day-to-day dealings. We engage with others on our terms assuming that it’s the norm for everyone else.
Suppose you are an extrovert person married to an introvert partner. And you have planned a birthday party him/ her with loud music and lots of people. How would that go for him/ her?
As a salesperson, you are more likely to offer your client a discount in a business deal (even if the other party didn’t ask for it) if you personally seek discount in items you buy.
The assumption that others would like to be treated the same way as you, is not necessarily true.
How about treating people the way ‘they would like to be treated?’