"It can make people feel inadequate, insecure, and defensive. "

On the first week of November, a cadet named Peter had the opportunity to participate in an abandon ship drill. He was a beginner in his chosen profession.

 He did his best to absorb those teeny-tiny bits of information when his coworkers taught him new information about the ship. He completed at least half of his one-year contract, and he knew he still had a little knowledge about the things around him. 

MV Terraine was underway in the Atlantic Ocean. It wasn't a busy day, so the captain informed the crew to perform an abandon ship drill. 

He was aware that it must be conducted onboard ships as a standard regulatory and safety practice. He participated during that time, but when his chief mate asked him to explain the different methods of launching a liferaft, he trembled because he did not know how to explain every single thing about it. 

He still endeavored to express his ideas, but instead of helping Peter understand the procedures and theory, the chief mate shamed him and made him a laughing stock in front of his colleagues. 

So Peter narrowed his vision to his safety shoes and listened to his superior's condescending comments. He analyzed what went wrong and why his chief mate undervalued him. 

He knew that he offered his best even though it did not meet his officer's expectations.

Condescension is a form of disrespect.

Condescension is toxic behavior onboard ships. Sometimes it occurs as a result of people expecting perfection from others. 

No one is exempt, whether you are a beginner or an expert. Several people confuse it with constructive criticism, but these are two distinct concepts. 

You cannot expect positive feedback from condescending people. Condescension is never acceptable. 

It creates a work environment of negativity and distrust, which hinders progress and growth. When you condescend, you're trying to establish dominance or superiority over others, and this behavior is toxic. 

It can make people feel inadequate, insecure, and defensive. If someone exhibits condescending behavior, it's important to address it early on and communicate its negative impact on the other person. 

On the one hand, constructive criticism is about supporting growth and improvement by providing useful feedback that can help. 

Again, it's essential to recognize the difference between the two and actively promote a culture of respect and collaboration. Remember, everyone has something valuable to offer, and everyone deserves kindness and respect.

Celebrate what goes correctly!

The takeaway here is that you should not discount or undervalue someone's effort. No matter the outcome, when you do something, you anticipate that others will value your efforts. 

Hence, in the same way, you should not degrade or base the value of a person on the volume of information he has in his brain or the amount of work he performs. 

When someone makes mistakes due to incapacity, always attempt to be more compassionate by paying enough attention and celebrating what goes correctly. 

When educating someone you encounter along the way, you can decide to put your ego aside and act courteously. 

For example, if you mentor a new crewmate who is struggling to grasp certain concepts, instead of belittling his intelligence or questioning his worth, you can take a compassionate approach by offering additional guidance and support.

By celebrating small victories and acknowledging efforts, you can create a positive learning environment that encourages growth and builds confidence.

This way, you prioritize the individual's development over your ego, fostering a respectful and courteous relationship. 

By doing things this way, you're not just improving others, but you're also improving yourself.