In an era when we are encouraged to “be ourselves” and “follow our hearts” and “do your own thing,” we almost never hear equal encouragement to consider how our actions may impact upon others. We are told we need a single-minded focus on pursuing our dreams and goals, and not to allow anything or anyone to stop us – which is great advice. Except when we fail to respect others in the process. And respect in the workplace is often in short supply as each person pursues their individual goals and aims.<\/p>\n Respect, in its most elemental form, is considering the needs and desires and opinions of others, whilst treating them courteously and kindly. It puts our own desires and goals aside long enough to consider whether others may be harmed or disadvantaged by our course of action. Respect treats others the way we would wish to be treated – with courtesy and consideration, even in the face of conflict or less than desirable behaviour by the other individual. It means living with integrity, and choosing not to use your power – personal or corporate – to harm another person. Respect in the workplace means being conscious of the aims and goals of others and refusing to place them at a disadvantage. It values others as individuals and rather than seeing them as a threat or an obstacle, wants them to achieve too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respect in the workplace is one of the biggest factors that determine whether that workplace is a satisfying experience for employees, and is also one of the biggest factors in a high staff turnover. Employees that don’t feel valued or respected often leave. In fact, research from executive advisory company CEB found that when employees are looking for a new position, there are five things that top their list of must-haves. Guess what comes in at place no 3? You guessed it – respect.<\/p>\n When employees feel disrespected, they become discontented, and that is the most likely time that they will start to consider another position. Gone are the days when we had the mindset of putting our heads down, ignoring the things we don’t like and staying quiet. These days, with our knowledge of our rights at work and in an age of empowerment, we want individual recognition for our contribution.\u00a0 And companies that don’t meet this universal need often find that they have a high staff turnover.<\/p>\n Some of the ways that employees feel disrespected are:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Recognition is such a big factor in whether employees feel respected in the workplace or not that it deserves some special attention. In its most basic form, recognition is simply a form of respect – an acknowledgement of a job well done, of an employee’s value to the workplace, or the value of an individual contribution. Sadly, a lot of workplaces ignore this fundamental need. Many employers take for granted the effort that staff put in (which stems from the thought “That’s what I pay them for!”). They fail to appreciate a job well done, or the value an employee has brought to a project, or to the company. This is one of the biggest causes of employee dissatisfaction in the workplace and as a result, many talented employees leave the organisation.<\/p>\n A study conducted in 2012 among social workers came to some profound conclusions about the relationship between recognition and respect. It found that employees perceive a direct link between recognition and respect in the workplace, and those who are unhappy with the recognition they receive at work were most likely to leave the organization.<\/p>\n Employees judge the respect of an organization in other ways, too. Monetary compensation is often more about feeling valued than it is about the money and shows employees that the company respects them. Kindness, courtesy and consultation shown by supervisors and coworkers is another way that employees judge respect in the workplace. Consultation and communication are key to making changes that work well for everyone and leave employees feeling that the company respects them. Employees also judge respect within an organization by whether or not the company values their ideas and opinions, especially in areas of their expertise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respect in the workplace becomes a natural process when we remember the golden rule. When we treat others respectfully, they will return our respect. Keeping this principle in mind can even change a disrespectful workplace culture. And everyone will find the workplace to be a much more satisfying environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n References and Further Reading:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0190740912001041<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Respect](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roadmumma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/handshake-442908_1920-1024x724.jpg?resize=1024%2C724\")
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\n<\/a><\/p>\nWhat Exactly Is Respect?<\/h2>\n
Respect In The Workplace<\/h2>\n
When Employees Feel Disrespected<\/h2>\n
![\"Respect](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roadmumma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/brainstorming-2503124_1920-300x200.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")
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Rewarding A Job Well Done<\/h2>\n
Other Ways Employees Judge Respect<\/h2>\n
![\"Communication](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/roadmumma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/telephone-586266_1920-300x200.jpg?resize=300%2C200\")
<\/a>Employees Can Create Respect In The Workplace<\/h2>\n
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Managers Can Too<\/h2>\n
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Respect In The Workplace Equals A Good Work Environment<\/h2>\n