Episode Reflection: Respect is often treated as something external — something we give, earn, or lose. In this conversation, I was curious about what happens when respect begins closer to home.

Marcy Syms reframes respect as a daily practice rather than a status or personality trait. We explore how self-respect shapes boundaries, how unspoken expectations quietly erode trust, and why respectful leadership depends more on attention than authority.

What stayed with me is the idea that respect isn’t loud or performative. It shows up in how we listen, how we disagree, and how we care for ourselves and others — especially when things feel tense or uncertain.

About the Guest

Marcy Syms is an author, executive coach, and leadership expert focused on respectful leadership and healthy workplace cultures. She is the author of Leading with Respect, where she explores how respect — for ourselves and others — can transform relationships, teams, and organizations.

Links & Resources

Marcy Syms’ website: https://marcysyms.com

Leading with Respect: https://marcysyms.com/book

Marcy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcysyms/

About Thought Echoes

Thought Echoes is a monthly podcast hosted by Beth Bonness, featuring conversations with authors, thinkers, and creatives exploring the nature of our thoughts — how they shape our lives, our work, and the meaning we make from experience.

These are not how-to conversations, but reflective ones — meant to linger, echo, and invite curiosity rather than certainty.

Thought Echoes Newsletter

If you enjoy conversations that explore the nature of our thoughts and the meaning we make from experience, you can subscribe to the Thought Echoes newsletter for deeper reflections:

👉 https://bethbonness.com/newsletter

Thank you for listening — and for staying with the echoes that shape your world.