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10 Ways to Gain Respect as a Leader

Respect is not something handed to you when you take on a new leadership role. It is an essential leadership quality that you must build over time. Unfortunately, there is no step-by-step method for gaining respect in a leadership role. Several major areas require your attention, but many leaders overlook small gestures that get big reactions from staff members.

You hear the phrase “Don’t sweat the small stuff” in stress-control seminars. But when it comes to respect, you absolutely must sweat the small stuff. Here are 10 small things you can do daily to gain the respect of your staff.

1. Maintain a Positive Attitude

People rarely respect negative leaders. Instead, they typically ridicule them behind their backs. Negativity sends the message that you’re bitter or mean; it develops fear, not respect.

2. Be Available to Employees

Don’t just have an open-door policy; make time to talk with employees and ask their opinions. Employees want to think they have the boss’s ear and can come to you when they have issues.

3. Offer to Help a Staff Member

No matter how busy you are, when you walk through your work area and notice an employee who needs assistance, offer some. Step in and get your hands dirty. It won’t go unnoticed.

4. Tell Staff What to Do, Not How to Do It

Effective delegation is an important part of becoming a good leader. Understand that employees are looking to develop their skills, so when you delegate, give them an important task to accomplish. Then stand back and let them figure out how to do it. When you tell employees how to do the task, they feel mistrusted and perhaps worthless. It is difficult to trust a leader who can’t let go.

5. Value Differences

Don’t hire people just like you. Bring in a qualified staff and show you value everyone’s differences by asking for input and encouraging everyone to work together as a team.