Word-Of-the-Week #938: Respect

July 28, 2022 by · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #938: Respect 

Respectto show consideration for; treat courteously or kindly. 

Have you ever thought about how we get respect? Is there anyone you have lost respect for? Do you think it’s possible to get respect back once it’s been lost?

This week features 5 Simple Ways to Gain Respect. Do you often feel disrespected? Here, Inc. columnists share insights on how to get the respect you deserve,” by Kevin Daum. 

“Even before Aretha Franklin had her hit record in 1967, people have been demanding respect. Odd, since respect is something that must be earned more with action and less with words. Some people are naturally respected; others have to work for it. It can often depend on the people you hang around or the environment in which you live or work. 

It’s never too late to start earning respect if you feel it’s lacking. You should start by taking an honest look at yourself and how you treat the people around you. Then go to work on being respect-worthy. Here is my best tip for gaining respect, and more insights from my Inc. colleagues.

  1. Start with them.

The number-one obstacle to earning respect is narcissism. If the first impression people get is that you are all about you, you will have a tough hill to climb to be respected. Be aware of what is happening in people’s lives. Act as an observer before taking action. Show genuine interest and empathy. If you authentically work to improve the environment for the betterment of all, respect will rain down upon you.

  1. Find respect for yourself first.

Forget hoping for respect. Some people will respect you, some won’t–you can’t control it. Focus on feeling good about yourself and what you do. Find ways to measure what you do, and evaluate yourself using those standards. If you’re doing what is right, what is best, and what works for you–and those things are helping you achieve your goals–then the people who matter will naturally respect you. But better yet, you’ll respect yourself, and that’s the best respect of all. –Owner’s Manual

  1. Follow the golden rule.

To gain respect, you must be worthy of being respected. Be a good person–someone who looks for the best in others and who follows through on his or her promises. Tell the truth, be transparent, and genuinely care about others. Show your gratitude early and often. Respect the people you work with, and they will respect you in return. –The Leadership Guy

  1. Begin with self-confidence.

Gaining the respect of others begins with respecting and believing in yourself. A lack of self-confidence is easily recognized–consciously or subconsciously–by those from whom you wish to earn respect. People who become overly absorbed in their quest for admiration definitely appear lacking in confidence. So just let it go. Live your purpose, help and respect others, and enjoy the process, and then you’ll be a magnet for respect. –The Successful Soloist

  1. Understand that respect is reflected.

Respect is a direct reflection of how you treat others. Building respect takes time and is earned as you interact with others. When you don’t feel respected, it’s easy to overcompensate and start barking orders, micromanaging tasks, bragging about your accomplishments, and demanding attention. This behavior pushes others away and results in less respect. This is a common problem for new managers as they learn how to effectively lead a team. Qualities of the most respected individuals I work with include quietness, thoughtfulness, and inquisitiveness. These traits reflect their desire to respect and listen to others. When these leaders make a decision, no matter how unpopular, their teams are accepting because of the respect they have for the leader. –Lean Forward”

“Respect is established when you consistently: consider and value the feelings and opinions of others; talk to and treat them in ways that you would want to be treated; and compromise and negotiate with them.” – Excerpt from Centers For Family Change

This week’s focus is on respect. Do you show genuine interest, care, and empathy for those around you? Do you ever feel that you are not being treated with respect? Have you clearly defined your boundaries?

I LOVE feedback! Join my Facebook community on my FUN-damentals Fan Page.

Word Of the Week #573: Respect

July 31, 2015 by · Comments Off on Word Of the Week #573: Respect 

Respectto show consideration for; treat courteously or kindly.

Do you work for a company that treats you with respect? Do you respect the people that you work for? How about your co-workers?

WOW #570 featured Mian Ridge’s article from the Financial Times of London about Michael Lee Stallard’s book titled, “When workers thrive, companies do too.” He wrote that “humans have six needs at work” and I felt those would be good to address individually over the next several WOW’s.

There are so many different kinds of respect that it would be impossible to list them all so I picked a couple that were work related. And as Stallard says below “they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.”

“The first need is respect. We need to be around people who are courteous and considerate. People who are routinely patronizing, condescending or passive aggressive, drain the life out of us and keep us from thriving.”

This article, “The Importance of Respect in the Workplace” written by Tricia L. Branchaud, clearly reinforces Stallard’s points on thriving.

“It is nice, but not essential that all co-workers like each other. It is crucial however, that people treat each other with respect.a respect

Why is respect in the workplace vital? Well, if common sense alone doesn’t convince you, or remembering work settings where you have seen respect flourishing or where it is lacking, I invite you to Google search the topic. Respectful behaviors in the workplace affect employee loyalty and morale, team work and team cohesiveness, employees’ attitudes towards work, employee turnover, leadership effectiveness, and even potential risk of liability to the employer.”

Stallard has a serious of posts titled, “100 Ways to Connect.” He writes, “It highlights language, attitudes and behaviors that help you connect with others. Although the language, attitudes and behaviors focus on application in the workplace, you will see that they also apply to your relationships at home and in the community.

#35 Respect Other People’s Time – When you interrupt someone while he/she is otherwise engaged, show that you respect his/her time by saying “Sorry to interrupt you. Is this a good time to talk?”

Another way to respect other people’s time is not to linger. If the other person is not very responsive, it may be a sign that he/she is busy and is eager to get back to work. Be sensitive to the other person’s responsiveness or lack thereof as a cue. Many people will not explicitly tell you they are busy because they don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

This week’s focus is on respect. How high or low is your employee turnover? Could morale be better? Does everyone work well as a team and support each other? Is everyone treated with courtesy and kindness?

I LOVE feedback! Join my Facebook community on my FUN-damentals Fan Page.