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Ways Leaders Can Demonstrate Respect to People

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“The respect you show to others (or lack thereof) is an immediate reflection on your self respect.”

  • Alex Elle

Every human being deserves respect. It can be safely said that respect is the foundation element in every relationship, whether personal or professional. Everyone wants and needs to feel respected, no matter the situation and relationship. Here, I would specifically talk about how important it is for leaders to be respectful and acknowledge the people or team they are working with.

Being a Mindset & Life Coach in Canada, I have worked with several corporate professionals who have moved up the ladder in their respective fields. One common quality that I have persistently tried to inculcate in them is to be respectful – to demonstrate respect towards coworkers. It is no more a nice-to-have quality, it is an essential and valuable attribute of a leader. It fosters trust, collaboration, productivity and coherence within a team.

In addition to cultivating a positive work environment, it speaks volumes about the leader and leaves a trial of confidence and conviction in the organization. There will always be redundant excuses for impolite behavior like busy, demanding schedules, deadlines, work pressure, personal problems but all this in no way means that one can show lack of civility.

There is enough research that shows that being treated with respect is more important to employees than recognition and appreciation, communicating an inspiring vision, providing useful feedback — even opportunities for learning, growth, and development. A few words of acknowledgment go a long way in enhancing an employee’s morale.

Below are five ways to show respect towards people or coworkers:

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  1. Welcome others’ ideas, opinions and feedback

Noone can feel welcome and appreciated in a biased environment. So, if you feel that others are hesitant to share information or are holding back their thoughts, chances are they have red a room that asks them to be tight-lipped. One bad-meaning joke, piece of sarcasm, blatant interruption or shutting down another’s suggestion speaks louder than all the lip service you pay to equality, diversity or innovation. It is important to be honest and accepting of others’ opinions and feedback. It is prudent to listen to both sides of the story before forming any judgment. Being receptive to others’ ideas also promotes creativity and innovation. It is a great way to show respect, build connection and maximize trust.

  1. Show compassion

When working in a team, it is likely to have someone who makes an error or a mistake, rather than raise your voice, roll your eyes or shame and blame, take a breath, take a moment and take your time to ask additional questions to identify and understand the underlying cause. Instead of having a condescending tone, have an empathetic tone. Feeling frustrated or disappointed is expected, but respectful leaders maintain emotional control and put their focus on solutions and next steps leaving others’ dignity intact.  Mature leaders hold individuals accountable for their actions but maintain open and respectful communication.

  1. Be present

To listen attentively or to give 100% attention to someone when they are speaking is one of the best ways to show respect to them. It is quite distressing to see that individuals ignore those in front of them and get busy with their phones to reply, chat and call. When you try to divert your attention to some other matter, how frivolous or pressing it may be, you are sending a signal that the person in front of you is less important. This doesn’t go down well in a team set-up. As a Life Coach, I met a top-notch professional once who had an open-door policy in his office and had clearly instructed his team to speak only when he is off his computer and has full attention to them. This gesture made everyone feel valued and respected.

  1. Trust and Freedom

Remarkable leaders empower teams to deliver quality work through encouragement, guidance, training and tools. They instill confidence in their team by giving them Following, they show their teams respect by trusting them to act in accordance to what they believe is the best solution in any situation. It is important to believe in them to accomplish tasks independently and demonstrate their capabilities. This leads to a supportive and positive environment. It also leads to an atmosphere that is conducive for professional growth for all.

  1. Walk the Talk

As a Mindset Coach in USA & Canada, I place a lot of value in virtue, walk the talk. It unfailingly sends a strong message that the leader is committed to what he or she says. They maintain certain standards and expect the same from others. Small habits like showing up on time for meetings, not sharing confidential information with others, treating everyone with dignity are looked up by team members. It is a lot fruitful and satisfying to work for a company and leader that places importance in human virtues.

Read More: Mindset Power: Creating Order and Abundance

The corporate environment would become a lot different and positive if all leaders set an example by following some, if not all of these. If there is respect in a structure, there is value, motivation, empowerment and success.

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