Respect
is a key requirement for a healthy work environment. It promotes teamwork and
increases productivity and efficiencies in the workplace. It lets employees
know they are valued for their abilities, qualities and achievements, and that
their role is important to their company’s success.
Being respected
and valued promotes a positive work culture where employees are loyal,
fulfilled, and motivated to perform at their best for their company. Those who
are not respectful to others are unprofessional and a threat to the health of
their company.
The meaning of Respect in the Workplace
Always treat people the way you want to be treated—with respect. Recognize that, like you, your coworkers, reports, and superiors have rights, opinions, wishes, experience, and competence. They also make mistakes, which are simply lessons to be learned. They have similar concerns and insecurities and share the common goal of wanting to perform their jobs successfully.
Respect
in the workplace breeds a healthy work environment. A professional, respectful work culture encourages productivity and growth. Staff work optimally knowing they are valued and respected for their ideas as well as their role within the company.
Respect
in the workplace fosters productivity, growth, and success for your organization.
Determining Respect in the Workplace
Respect can be heard in a person’s tone of voice, in their nonverbal communication and in how they address you. It can be observed by how your coworker or supervisor listens to you and asks questions to make sure they understand your point of view.
You judge respect by the way your organization, superiors, and coworkers treat you. It is apparent in how your organization establishes new rules and policies and introduces them to employees, and how they compensate, recognize, and reward you.
Respect can be determined by how often employees ask your opinion, consult you about any changes that could affect their job prior to implementing them.
Examples of How to Show Respect in the Workplace
• Treat people with courtesy, politeness and kindness.
• Encourage coworkers to express opinions and ideas.
• Listen to what others have to say before expressing your viewpoint. Never speak over or interrupt another person. Listen and stop formulating rebuttals and responses in your mind when you need to focus on listening to the other person.
• Use peoples’ ideas to change or improve work. Let employees know that you used their idea or encourage them to implement the ideas themselves.
• Never insult, use name-calling or belittle people or their ideas.
• Do not constantly criticize, judge or demean a worker. A series of seemingly trivial actions added up over time constitutes bullying.
• Be aware of your body language, the tone of voice, and your demeanor and expression in all of your interactions at work. People hear what you’re really saying in your actions in addition to listening to your words.
• Improve your ability to interact with coworkers and supervisors based on the awareness you’ve gained dealing with people and your emotional intelligence. This will help you to relate with empathy and better understand people you work.
• Treat employees fairly and equally. Treating people differently can constitute harassment, discrimination, or create a hostile work environment.
• Include all coworkers in meetings, discussions, training, and events. While not every person can participate in every activity, do not marginalize, exclude or leave out any one particular person. Provide an equal opportunity for employees to participate in committees, trainings, or continuous improvement teams. Solicit volunteers and try to involve everyone.
• Offer praise more frequently and pat people on the back. Encourage praise and recognition among employees, as well as from supervisors and managers.
Importance of Respect in the Workplace
• Respect is a requisite for a healthy, professional workplace where employees feel valued performing work that is meaningful to the organization. A healthy work environment can increase employee retention and boost an organization’s reputation as a great place to work.
• A respectful environment reduces workplace stress, problems and conflicts. An increase in workplace respect will help to improve communication between colleagues, increase teamwork and reduce stress as peace in the workplace soars.
• Respect helps promotes a positive culture which increases employee satisfaction as employees feel happy and motivated while working in such an environment.
• Respect increases productivity, knowledge and understanding. This is a result of increase in exchange of ideas and innovation which is geared towards employees focusing on the company and not individuals.