How do you know?

How do you know when people you work with really respect your opinion?  How can we create a team of people who respect each other?  How can we work through opposition and come to an agreement, get past the negative feelings arising out of the opposition, and get to the place we really want to be?  I hope my summer readings (Switch and A Whole New Mind) will help me sort these out.  One of my top three goals for the year is to remind myself often (which hopefully drives me to act on those reminders) that the best place is here, the best time is now, and the best people are those present here and now ~~~ be here now.