5 Ways to Be More Respectful in the Workplace

Earlier this year, the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported that the #1 contributor to job satisfaction in the workplace is “respectful treatment of all employees at all levels.”

The value of respect is critical for a healthy culture.

However, in a 2013 HBR article, “The Price of Incivility”, researchers Christine Porath and Christine Pearson state that 98% of workers have reported experiencing uncivil behavior. Half of those polled in a 2011 survey said they were treated rudely at least once a week,  double the number reported in 1998.

In other words, a lack of respect – or incivility – has been steadily increasing over the years.

As Porath and Pearson report, the negative impact is significant among workers who’ve been on the receiving end of incivility:

• 48% intentionally decrease their work effort.
• 47% intentionally decrease the time spent at work.
• 38% intentionally decrease the quality of their work.
• 25% admitted to taking their frustration out on customers.

Clearly, the price of incivility is huge.

So, if creating a culture of respect is of critical importance, what can leaders do – at all levels – to both demonstrate and encourage others to be respectful?

5 Ways to Be More Respectful

Here are five ways to live the value of respect in the workplace:

1. Be Polite. Show appreciation in both word and deed. Say “please” and “thank you.” When you mess up, apologize and say “I’m sorry.” Treat people with courtesy and kindness. Be direct, honest and tactful with everyone.
2. Be Open. Seek first to understand the perspective of others before jumping to action. Encourage others to join in discussions, training, and events. While not every person can participate in every activity, be careful not to marginalize, exclude or leave out any person.
3. Be Positive. Spend more time on the solution than the problem (80/20 rule). Look for the good in others and acknowledge their strengths. Compliment more than you criticize. Encourage praise and recognition between others you work with, and everyone you meet.
4. Be Trusting. Share responsibility and permit others to make decisions. Encourage co-workers to express opinions and ideas. Listen before expressing your viewpoint. Acknowledge and use the ideas of others to change or improve work.
5. Be Reliable. Stick to your commitments and deliver whatever you promise. And be careful not to promise anything that includes someone else’s cooperation unless you have their commitment first. When a commitment must be adjusted, do it early and anticipate the impact it will have on others.

Is it always easy being respectful of others? No. Sometimes it can be quite difficult. But if there’s a lack of respect on the inside of an organization, it will show up on the outside, impacting performance and results.

So keep your culture in check, and always show respect.

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“Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.” — Laurence Sterne