4 Ways Good Leaders Show Respect

HArvard Business Review conducted a study of 20,000 employees and found that 54 percent said they are not regularly respected by their managers. Listen - you will be busy, overwhelmed and have many people to help you if you are blessed to lead. Whether you're managing a team of three (at home) or a team of 300,000, half of your employees shouldn't feel disrespected. Showing respect as a leader is essential.

And good leaders show respect to everyone. If you can't show respect as a leader, you're probably not a good leader. If you want to get respect from others, you have to show respect to others. Here are 4 ways good leaders show respect.

1. Say thank you.

It's simple, but so many leaders make a mistake when they don't. There is power in saying the words "thank you." Make sure you're a leader who, in every situation, says thank you to your wife and children to the people you work with. Don't be an ungrateful leader. The grateful leader encourages those around him and boosts morale just by saying these simple words. William Arthur Ward said, "Gratitude can turn ordinary days into thanksgiving, routine chores into joy, and ordinary opportunities into blessings."

Already said “thank you” today?

2. Give credit where credit is due.

Have you ever worked with someone who stole all credit for a job well done? It's difficult to work with someone who doesn't give them proper credit. I've known leaders who quote the adage, "You can accomplish a lot if you don't care who gets the credit"—except the same leaders always get the credit!

Often the leader who fails to give credit where credit is due is the same leader who takes credit when good things happen but takes no responsibility for bad results. Be the leader who takes the blame when things go wrong and the one who gives credit for a job well done.

Have you given credit to someone who needs it today?

3. Help others get ahead.

As a manager, people come to you with questions and need your advice. You have a great opportunity ahead of you to show respect in these times. A great way to do this is to ask those around you, "How can I help you?"

Even if the person you're asking can't think of anything to help, you still show respect. I would argue that if you spend years asking others how you can help, you won't regret it. Simply showing an interest in service will show respect to others. It will show them that you are focused on their best interests.

When was the last time you looked ahead and offered someone help before they asked for it?

4. Trust those around you to do what is asked.

Another way to do this is to give others the freedom to do what they've been asked to do. A great sign of respect is when a leader shows trust in other people. Some people put it this way, “Say the what and why, but don't reveal the how.” The idea is to state your expectations as a leader, but let the people around you do their job. Don't tell them how to do every single thing.

When we tell people how to do things, we don't cultivate an environment where others can take the initiative. Be careful not to stifle a culture of initiative by constantly barking about how to do anything.

If you ask for something, tell people how to do it?

What have you learned from the leaders in your life about showing respect as a leader? Share a comment below.

By: 4 Ways Good Leaders Show Respect