Do you wish that your team looked up to you?
Do you want your people to see you as a competent leader or manager?
Unfortunately, just having a title or position of authority won't get you the respect you need.
Respect must be earned through your actions and behaviors.
But how?
In this post, we'll cover an overview of what respect is, why it's necessary, and a simple 3 step approach to gaining respect with others.
Why Respect Matters in Leadership
When you gain the respect of your team, you can then build trust that leads to open communication and teamwork.
Respect and trust are linked.
When someone earns our respect, we instinctively trust them. And if anyone loses our respect, we instinctively lose trust in them.
So a team leader who has not gained the respect of their team members cannot expect them to trust in their direction any more than each team member is able to make themselves respect the title of "team leader".
As you know, respect for a title just doesn't go far.
But when the team respects the leader, the underlying cohesion of the team ignites creativity and grows resilience.
Key Components of Respect
Inspection
Re-spect
1. Inspection: What Are They Looking For?
The beginning of respect is not what you want from the team.
It's about what they want from you.
Respect simply means "to look again". It comes from the root word, "spect", meaning to look or search (like spectacle or spectator) and from the prefix, "re", meaning again.
So respect begins with a search.
Someone searching--someone inspecting--what you are offering them.
This concept is beautifully illustrated through the biblical story of Cain and Abel.
Genesis 4:3-5
"And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.
And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."
This story shows us that respect is all about what we offer people.
Just as God inspected their offerings to determine their value, your team is constantly assessing what you bring to the table.
Questions to Consider:
Are you offering what your team needs?
Are your actions and decisions aligned with their expectations?
2. Re-spect: Repeatedly Earning Trust
If your people inspect what you have to offer (inspection), and they see that it is something that they want, they're gonna look to you again for that thing.
They will re-spect you.
After providing that desired value, delivering on your promises, and meeting expectations over and over again, you'll build trust and admiration.
They'll keep on looking up to you for what they need from you because they know that you're willing to bring it to them in the way that they need it.
Key Strategies:
Deliver Quality: Ensure that your contributions are valuable and effective.
Be Reliable: Consistency in your actions will build long-lasting respect.
Seek Feedback: Welcoming inspection and feedback allows for continual improvement and shows that you value others' perspectives.
Steps to Earn and Sustain Respect
Step 1: Understand Needs
To gain the respect of others, you have to find out what that person or team needs from you.
You have to know what to offer, what it is that they're looking to you to provide.
As a new leader, that's not always easy because leading is so different than than just doing the thing that your team does.
If you're a great sales person who gets promoted to sales manager, now you're in charge of a team of salesmen. That's not the same thing as just doing sales. Now you've got to lead.
Or maybe you're a machinist and you get promoted to team lead. You can't simply be a better machinist than the others. They expect a different offering from you than doing machinist labor.
Over time, learn what your team needs.
Here's a quick reference of a few things every team needs from their leader...
performance evaluations
strategic plans
decisions made about scheduling and rotations
making sure that everyone knows who's doing what, by when
effective meeting management
Figure out how to provide those things in the quality that your team needs them consistently and they'll grow in their respect of you as a leader.
Step 2: Provide Quality Offerings
I just gave you a list of things that every team needs, but every team and context is different. They will want those offerings delivered to them in a way that makes sense to them.
Some teams need your offerings to come more often, some less. Some teams need your leadership in a more serious way, and some need you to be more fun.
And some seasons require a different offering or intensity of that offering from the leader than others. For instance, in times of change, I highly recommend that the communication and transparency of the leader increase.
Whatever is needed, remember to give it your best effort.
Quality offerings are not just about the end result but also about the effort and intention behind them. Your people will sense your sacrifice and appreciate you for your work!
Step 3: Welcome Inspection
Once you've found out what your people are looking for, and you bring it in the best way you can bring it, then allow them to evaluate how they think or feel about it.
It's not wrong or disrespectful for your team, your employees, your children, or the public to have their opinion, or request something differently.
That's why we get into business or the nonprofit sector. That's why we're parents.
We want to help! We want to serve!
If we don't receive their feedback, we don't know how to change or how to bring the right offering. And that means that we won't know how to keep them looking to us again.
Being open to feedback is crucial.
When you welcome inspection, you show that you value the opinions and perspectives of your team. This openness not only fosters trust but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement.
Conclusion
Respect is not a given; it is earned through consistent, value-driven actions, and an openness to feedback. By understanding the needs of your team, providing quality offerings, and welcoming inspection, you can build a foundation of trust and influence that will enhance your leadership effectiveness.
Ready to take your leadership to the next level?
Book a call with Josh Cole Coaching to refine your leadership skills and make a lasting impact.
By adopting these principles, you'll be well on your way to earning the respect of your team and elevating your leadership. Remember, respect is not just about being liked; it's about creating value and building trust. Let's lead with respect and make a difference together.
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