When most people think of being a business leader, there are plenty of different aspects of the job that come to mind. However, one that is often misunderstood is that of respect. While it’s true that being a good leader that brings success to your company involves gaining the respect of your team, it’s also important to understand that there is a difference between respect and outright fear.
Too many leaders assume that in order to get the respect of their employees, they need to ensure that those employees understand their seriousness and gain a level of fear around them. If employees are afraid of punishment, they’re less likely to break rules and more likely to turn in solid work, right?
Wrong. At Technalink, we’ve found that this common misconception is actually having a negative impact on a huge number of businesses and their leaders. Respect isn’t based on fear. Respect is based on employees seeing that their leader works hard, treats others with dignity and compassion, and more. They see qualities in their leader that they want to strive to embody as well, and they see the hard work that a leader does in order to reach their goals.
Being a leader that employees respect rather than fear has numerous benefits, including:
- Better productivity
- Higher employee morale
- Lower turnover rates
- Better communication with employees
- And much more
So how do you go about building that level of respect among your team? The biggest, most obvious step is simply to treat them with the same level of respect that you would like to obtain in reciprocation. When employees feel as though their employer values them as an individual instead of just another number in the system, it’s much easier for them to start respecting their leaders.
Additionally, lead by example. Don’t be the leader who sits in an office all day and only shows up in the work areas when they are about to reprimand an employee. Join projects, engage with employees, and show them the kind of employee you want them to be. When they see that you’re more than just a figurehead or a person there to dole out punishment, it will have a big impact on their feelings about you.
Simply put, fear isn’t the way to lead a company. You want to be a leader that is respected and viewed with a positive outlook. Take a look at how you’re leading now and what you can change to gain more respect, and your company will benefit tremendously as a result.
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