Most of us have worked with individuals who have commanded immense respect, even though they may not have been in positions of authority. They might have been coworkers, support staff, or even subordinates, but they conducted themselves so well and cultivated such a great reputation that others couldn’t help but respect them.
Interestingly, those who command this type of respect often share several traits and behaviors that help them attain (and maintain) their esteem in other people’s eyes. Here are 9 of them.
1. They treat others with respect and courtesy.
One of the easiest ways a person can command respect is to show it to others. As such, those who are respected the most at work are those who treat everyone with the same courtesy, whether they’re the CEO, the receptionist, or the maintenance staff. They aren’t sycophantic towards the higher-ups, nor are they snobbish towards their subordinates.
Furthermore, they listen when others are speaking instead of interrupting them, and are never arrogant or condescending towards anyone. They’ll take note of other people’s preferences and boundaries, and will make a point of respecting and honoring them.
2. They speak assertively.
A person who speaks assertively, in a calm, measured voice, with a strong tone and articulate pronunciation, will naturally command respect from their peers and superiors alike. Their words ring with strength and power instead of sounding hesitant or fearful, making everyone around them pay a bit more attention and heed what’s being said.
Elocution experts advise that clear and expressive speech is immensely beneficial to those who wish to be treated with respect and listened to by those within their sphere. Consider the speech patterns of those you admire and respect: do they speak clearly and strongly? Or pitch their voices like raspy children?
3. They behave with dignity.
Whereas some people will regale their colleagues with details about their weekend conquests, alcohol consumption, or mortifying shenanigans, people who command respect at the workplace keep their private lives private. Furthermore, if there are workplace events like holiday parties or the like, they don’t make utter fools of themselves.
I’m not sure about you, but I’ve been in several situations in which my coworkers got terribly drunk at work parties and humiliated themselves. It’s hard to maintain any respect for a person after you’ve seen them running around half-naked with a fried chicken bucket on their head. In contrast, those who remain fairly sober and conduct themselves with grace keep their dignity, their reputations, and the photocopier intact.
4. They contribute thoughtfully.
Many of us have worked with people who will throw out ideas during meetings that have little or nothing to do with the task at hand, and then get upset when they aren’t taken seriously. Alternatively, they might raise issues that aren’t really issues at all, or that only affect them rather than the group as a whole, and be met with great contempt as a result.
In contrast, those who command respect are usually those who will make good, thoughtful suggestions that address everyone’s concerns or that will benefit the entire company. They also acknowledge other people’s contributions, giving credit where it’s due instead of pretending they have come up with solutions without anyone else’s input.
5. They fulfill their duties diligently.
Most of us have worked with people who always have some excuse as to why they weren’t able to get their share of the work done on time. We all have bad days on occasion (which is totally understandable), but that’s a far cry from someone who consistently drops the ball and requires others to work twice as hard to make up for their shortcomings.
Those who work diligently, however, command great respect because they’ll do their best to fulfill their duties even when they’re not feeling 100 percent. Think of the person who finishes their portion of a report from home when they’re sick in bed with the flu so they don’t let their teammates down, and how much everyone appreciates their effort.
6. They’re always well groomed.
These individuals may not be wearing five-thousand-dollar suits, but they’re always clean and as well dressed as possible. In simplest terms, they have enough self-respect to make themselves presentable, regardless of what job they’re performing. Even those who need to wear uniforms at their workplace will keep them clean, ironed, and mended, and will maintain a tidy appearance to the best of their ability.
A maintenance worker who is impeccably groomed and smells like heaven will always command more respect than the CEO who wears half his lunch on the front of his too-short t-shirt and hasn’t brushed his hair since 1997.
7. They admit their errors and take action to remedy them.
We’ve all screwed up at work at one time or another: it’s simply inevitable. What matters is how a person behaves when the inevitable mess-up happens. Those who admit their mistakes and then do what they can to fix them will garner much more respect than those who try to avoid accountability and blame others for the error.
This is because admitting a mistake shows honesty and humility, and taking steps to amend the issue shows integrity. Meanwhile, the person who’s crying that it isn’t their fault, trying to lay blame elsewhere so someone gets in trouble instead of them, shows that they’re dishonest and unreliable.
8. They show consideration and care towards their coworkers.
Many of us spend about as much time with our colleagues as we do with our family members. This may result in tensions with some people, but also offers the opportunity for great rapport and friendship. Those who end up being deeply respected by others will often make a point of getting to know people’s names and personal details so they can ask about their families, or give them gift cards or similar on their birthdays.
This kind of consideration also includes honesty with their peers if things aren’t going well. For example, if they overhear about layoffs, they’ll tell others instead of pretending they didn’t know about them. They’ll be a united front with their colleagues instead of just looking out for themselves.
9. They don’t tolerate workplace bullies.
Standing up for someone who’s being bullied or otherwise treated unfairly will inevitably raise that person’s esteem in other people’s eyes. Those who witness someone standing up to a manager for mistreating a colleague will think more highly of that individual, as will a manager who sees a subordinate step in to defend one of their peers.
People like this make it abundantly clear that they don’t tolerate bullying, either towards themselves or their fellows. They stand up for what’s right, even when it’s difficult to do so. And as such, they develop a reputation for defending those who may not be confident in defending themselves. As you can imagine, the only person who wouldn’t respect someone like this is the person who’s being awful and not getting away with it.
Final thoughts…
If you’re struggling to be respected at work, think about the people you respect the most and try to emulate what you admire about them. How do they carry themselves? Are they well-dressed? Well spoken? Are they assertive in their speech rather than apologetic? Are they always prepared and professional?
Take note of all these traits and aim to incorporate them into your own day-to-day life. Before you know it, you’ll likely be commanding far more respect than you’ve been receiving. Use it wisely and ethically.
