bhaskar saikia

We often hear the phrase, “Dress the way you want to be addressed.” It’s more than just about clothing—it’s about presentation, presence, and the message you silently send into the world. People form impressions within seconds, and whether we like it or not, those impressions shape the way they treat us.

But dressing is only one part of the picture. The other, often overlooked, part is how we conduct ourselves. Because beyond appearance, it is our actions, words, and boundaries that teach others how to engage with us.

Here’s a simple truth:

“Be careful what you tolerate, because you are teaching people how to treat you.”-Anonymous

If you consistently accept being interrupted, overlooked, or dismissed, you silently give permission for that behavior to continue. If you command respect through clarity, consistency, and confidence, people respond in kind.

We basically allow ourselves to be taken seriously—or lightly—by the way we show up in the world. Clothes may be the cover, but our conduct is the content. And people read both.

Being conscious of this dynamic changes everything. You start to notice the subtle patterns:

• Who respects your time, and who doesn’t.
• Who values your opinions, and who brushes them aside.
• Who speaks to you with care, and who takes you for granted.

If you don’t like the way people treat you, the answer isn’t always to blame them. Often, it’s an invitation to adjust your own approach. Maybe it means setting clearer boundaries. Maybe it means speaking with more conviction. Maybe it means carrying yourself with the same seriousness you expect from others.

Respect, after all, is not demanded—it is cultivated.

So yes, dress the way you want to be addressed. But also, conduct yourself in a way that reflects the treatment you expect. Because every day, in small ways, you are teaching people how to engage with you. And the moment you become conscious of that, you gain the power to change it.