How to Get More Respect at Work

It is only natural to feel respected at work, in the home, and among your friends. Being respected in the workplace helps to improve your self-confidence and is a great motivating factor to do your best. Having the respect of your fellow employees and your boss means that you are a valued and worthy member of your organization.

It is not always easy to know how to get more respect at work. Trying to force others to respect you may even have the opposite effect. However, you may feel that you are always missing out in that big promotion or that no one takes your ideas seriously.

What can you do to earn more respect at work and improve your career chances?

In this article, you will find out some easy ways to boost your self-esteem and improve the way others in the workplace view you.

Be generous with kindness

One of the first ways you can change another person's perception of you and earn their respect is to be kind.

Always be in the habit of being courteous and polite to everyone you come into contact with. This could mean holding the door open for someone or letting them pass through before you. Or, you could offer to make the coffee for a fellow employee during your break.

It’s also important to show respect to others when you have a difference of opinion. Be kind when speaking to others even if you feel the matter should be handled differently. Getting annoyed, irritated, or venting your frustration is a sure way to lose the respect of others.

So, give other people the respect you would like to get and you will find that you get more respect at work.

Stick to your boundaries

Another way to gain more respect from your workmates or team leader is to stick to your principles.

In general, people respect others who have principles and lose respect for those who are quick to abandon them. For example, some work-related boundaries could be not checking work-related emails at home or saying no to projects if you are already over-worked.

Of course, there may be times when you need to be flexible with your boss when it comes to meeting deadlines. However, always try and stick to your boundaries to protect what is truly important to you.

Be honest

Honesty fuels respect at work and will help to earn you the respect you deserve from others.

Of course, if you have made mistakes in a project, it may be tempting to try and hide these or apportion the blame to someone else. However, owning up and taking responsibility will usually earn you more respect than if others find out afterward.

Earning respect through honesty at work also means being realistic when it comes to deadlines. So, never over-promise on a project but work hard to get it finished on time. If you do fall behind, be honest with your superior that you need more time or assistance.

Develop an optimistic outlook

Are you a ‘glass-is-half-full’ or ‘glass-is-half-empty’ kind of a person? Employees who are genuinely optimistic are usually respected more than pessimists.

Being optimistic will also affect your dealings with your fellow employees. For example, if you try to see the good in others or appreciate their efforts, you will reflect this in your attitude towards them. This will mean that there is always something positive to say about others and they will respect you for that.

Try to be the best always

Always put your best efforts into projects that you are working on and avoid settling for a mediocre result.

When you aim to do the best possible job or task, you will also grow in self-confidence. Producing good-quality work will earn you the respect of your boss, team leader, and other employees.

However, when trying to be the best, there are 2 qualities to avoid that can lose you respect. One is boasting about your accomplishments. The other quality to avoid if you want to earn respect is not looking down on others because you perceive yourself as superior.

In conclusion

There are many ways to earn respect at work. Even if you are in a management position at work where respect is demanded, acting in a way to earn respect will mean that your employees will be honest and respectful to you, even when you are not around.

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