Owning and managing a business can be an exciting, but it can also be demanding and stressful. Owners and managers alike must take the role of a leader and guide their employees. However, this task can be difficult if the managers lack leadership experience or if the employees demonstrate a lack of respect for authority. Even in these cases, earning respect is not impossible. By applying the following practices, leaders can more effectively earn the respect of their peers and employees.
Show Compassion and Empathy
In some businesses, employees feel like their managers don’t care about them and only care about the business’ profits. This belief can lead to a significant decrease in productivity and even cause some employees to quit. In order to earn respect, it’s important to give employees respect and show that their efforts are appreciated. Just like their superiors, employees want to know they’re valued, and leaders can show appreciation with little effort, making this practice effective and efficient.
Learn To Be More Patient
All leaders must learn that a little patience can go a long way. It can take a bit of time to learn how to be a good leader, so taking your time to learn the ropes will pay off. If employees see their leader acting impulsively, most employees won’t hold their leader in high regard. If anything, impatience allows employees and business partners to exploit this weakness. Patience is key when looking to earn respect as it shows self-restraint and maturity. Employees value these traits in leaders as they feel they can rely more on individuals who demonstrate these characteristics.
Find a Mentor
As a leader, you will find that you have more access to productive opportunities; one of these opportunities involves the ability to connect with and learn from other leaders. More experienced leaders can offer great advice for novice leaders, and in finding a mentor, leaders can secure a valuable resource to aid them with difficult obstacles in business or leadership. Consulting with another leader can open the door to possible solutions, allowing those in authority to quickly rectify the issues at hand. While some inexperienced leaders may think that having a mentor flaunts their lack of experience to employees, it actually shows that these leaders are not afraid to ask for help when needed. As opposed to stubbornness, this trait is largely regarded as a positive one.
Ask Employees For Feedback
Perhaps one of the best ways to earn respect as a leader is to engage with employees. Ask them for their opinions on certain situations and topics. Doing so will make employees feel wanted and give proper respect to their leader. Additionally, asking for employee’s feedback also allows superiors and business owners the ability to bond with their employees in a more professional and productive way.
Earning respect as a leader can be challenging, but it doesn’t always have to be. Taking small steps to grow as a leader and demonstrate genuine consideration for employees will help you earn respect from individuals within and beyond your company.
This piece was originally posted on MichaelRalby.org.