Show Your Employees You Respect Them
| Treating everyone with respect is the foundation of good leadership. But what does respectful leadership actually look like in practice? Here are some behaviors to prioritize. * Build trust. This requires three factors: developing positive relationships, sharing knowledge and expertise, and being consistent in how you treat people. * Value diversity. Hire team members from diverse backgrounds, check your unconscious biases, encourage perspectives that challenge the status quo, and, of course, treat everyone equally. * Stay attuned to your employees’ emotions. You can’t be aware of everything your team members are going through in their personal and professional lives. But you can—and should—convey that you’re there for them should they want to discuss sensitive issues or concerns. * Balance compassion and accountability. Establish a culture that supports work-life balance, and make it clear that productivity shouldn’t come at the cost of your employees’ well-being. * Resolve conflicts. Don’t take a hands-off approach when tensions arise on your team. A respectful leader willingly engages in conflict resolution. * Give constructive feedback—productively. Be direct and honest about your employees’ strengths and weaknesses. Ignoring or minimizing either is ultimately unkind, counterproductive, and disrespectful. |
| This tip is adapted from “7 Ways to Make Employees Feel Respected, According to Research,” by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman |
