How to Show Respect in the Workplace to Advance Your Career

Giving and receiving respect to and from co-workers and management is a key factor in a high-performing, enjoyable workplace. While it's challenging to request respect, it is rather easy to display respect to others and, hopefully, receive it in return.

The Importance of Respect at the Workplace

Good workplace relationships are one of the most important and influential employee goals—and can greatly affect your career. Establishing superior work relationships typically start with respect. Since you can only directly control the “giving” part of the equation, be sure that you show respect to everyone—regardless of their position on the organization chart.

Understand that you can only receive the respect that you give. As the legendary Beatles once musically advised, “The love you take is equal to the love you make.” Respect is similar. Those that do not give respect are seldom shown any.

Giving respect to co-workers and management is critical to being perceived as an outstanding team player—or team leader. For example, all the success attributed to Bill Gates and Paul Allen for founding Microsoft would have been equal to a “pebble on the beach” compared to that which their company has achieved. It may be individuals who have ideas for greatness, but usually it’s the team they assemble that achieves the pinnacle.

Once again, the road begins with respect. Easily given, respect can generate great rewards. Conversely, not showing respect to others can be very damaging to you and your career. The curious thing about respect is that you usually know when you have it and when you don’t. Yet, it remains difficult to easily define. Here are some simple, but proven, powerful steps you can take to show respect for your co-workers.

How to Display Respect at the Workplace

• ALWAYS be courteous, polite, kind and empathetic at work. Co-workers will silently thank you on a daily basis for this simple, tasteful behavior. These actions cost you nothing, are easy to display, and are appreciated by all.
• Encourage your peers to share their ideas and opinions with you and others. Many of your peers may be shy about sharing ideas and opinions with others. Encourage them to do so, and treat their comments with sincerity, even if you disagree.
• Listen, listen, listen. The simple act of listening displays high respect for the speaker. Avoid interrupting or stating your position until the speaker is finished. Patiently listening to a co-worker—regardless of the subject—is a strong display of respect.
• Try to use the good ideas of others to improve your performance—and tell them you did. Using the good ideas of co-workers and telling them publicly that you did shows major respect for the idea creator. One good idea may also help other co-workers succeed, spreading the volume of respect. Don’t hesitate to tell management—giving full credit to your co-worker—if an idea offers company-wide help.
• Avoid, at all costs, insulting or putting down another. Respect means “never having to say you’re sorry,” because you avoid insulting or putting down co-workers. This behavior will bring you wonderful personal and career results.
• Never criticize, judge, nit-pick, or patronize your co-workers, including management. Criticizing, judging, nit-picking and patronizing are among the most disrespectful behaviors you could choose to display. They always embarrass and hurt others. If delivered in a public forum, the damaging effects are magnified. Avoiding these actions, however, shows a welcomed level of sincere respect.
• Treat everyone well, even those not at the top of your “friends” list. Avoid cliques and other groups that exclude others. Treat all co-workers fairly and sincerely.
• Utilize the “Golden Rule”—treat others, as you want to be treated— at every occasion with peers, management, customers and vendors. If you prefer you could use the newer, very popular “Platinum Rule”—treat others as they want to be treated—to display respect at the workplace toward everyone with whom you interact. Along with showing respect, it labels you as a polished professional, one whom management must consider for new opportunities.

Showing respect is as much a “feeling” as it is the result of your specific, direct actions. Just as you know when you have it and when you don’t, others share the same ability. Infusing displays of respect in your everyday workplace activities becomes ever easier as you practice this behavior. Eventually, it becomes part of your persona, so you no longer need to monitor your respect-showing activities.

You will be perceived as a respected person and destined to be a worthy friend, valued co-worker and important staff member by your employer. Life will be good.