A critical lesson I\u2019ve learned in life is the value of respect. This may seem \u201cold school,\u201d but if you treat people respectfully\u2014especially in business\u2014you will earn their respect in return. And you likely will get the results you want.<\/p>\n
Respect is a woefully misunderstood term. Here\u2019s what it is\u00a0not:<\/em><\/p>\n Respect is not a response you demand from others. I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve heard someone say\u2014whether to an underling, a boss, or a peer\u2014\u201cI insist you give me more respect,\u201d or some version thereof. While it\u2019s important to point out when someone is treating you\u00a0dis<\/em>respectfully, it does not follow that respect can be gained upon command. Respect is something you\u00a0earn<\/em>. Period.<\/p>\n Respect is not intimidation. Many people in the world today\u2014from gang leaders to CEOs\u2014 mistakenly believe respect boils down to projecting a \u201cdon\u2019t mess with me\u201d persona. To reinforce this image, they do things like bark orders, treat others heartlessly, or make unilateral decisions. But being a jerk people are afraid of is not the same as being respected.<\/p>\n Respect isn\u2019t an entitlement linked to a particular job title. Just because you\u2019re regional manager or have earned five Ph.D.s does not mean your employees or peers will automatically respect you.<\/p>\n Respect\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0the esteem that flows to you naturally when you behave with honesty, integrity, compassion, and a devotion to something bigger than yourself.<\/p>\n 6 Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n So how do you earn respect in business? Here are six ways:<\/p>\n 1. Be humble.<\/strong>\u00a0Don\u2019t expect anyone to care about where you went to college or what awards you\u2019ve won. Braggarts are boring and turn people off. Avoid self-promotion and publicity stunts. They don\u2019t work, and they don\u2019t engender respect. If you have skills, put them into action; don\u2019t talk about them. Show some grit, grace, and gratitude toward your job and co-workers, and respect will follow.<\/p>\n 2. Lead by example.<\/strong>\u00a0Model the qualities you expect to see in the people you lead and work with. If you want your workers and peers to be honest, be truthful and transparent in all your business dealings. If you want your employees to show dedication to a project, don\u2019t take long lunches or quit early. \u201cDo as I say, not as I do\u201d is a sure ticket to disrespect.<\/p>\n 3. Help people succeed and advance.<\/strong>\u00a0Nothing earns respect more than a genuine and unselfish concern for your team members. Give your staff opportunities for development and advancement in-house. Build future leaders at every level of the organization and develop the next generation of leaders from within.<\/p>\n 4. Be a teacher or mentor.<\/strong>\u00a0People always have other opportunities, regardless of the economy, and will leave your business unless they see an investment is being made in their future. Don\u2019t hoard your knowledge; be generous with it and show a fearless desire to help those around you grow.<\/p>\n