Respect at work is one of those things everyone wants but not everyone knows how to earn. It’s not just about doing your job well; it’s about the way you interact, the energy you bring to the room, and how you handle challenges.
Many people unintentionally adopt habits that can chip away at the respect they hope to build. These behaviors often go unnoticed by the person doing them, but to colleagues, they can send the wrong signals—leading to strained relationships, missed opportunities, and even stalled careers.
In this article, we’re uncovering seven such behaviors that may be standing in the way of earning the respect you deserve at work.
Let’s get started.
It’s a common trap that many of us fall into – promising more than we can deliver in an attempt to impress or win approval. But this is a surefire way to lose respect at work.
The logic is simple. When you promise big and fail to deliver, it creates a gap between expectation and reality. This gap is filled with disappointment, frustration, and a loss of trust.
Rather than overpromising, it’s far more beneficial to be realistic about what you can achieve. This might not sound as impressive in the short term, but in the long run, it builds trust and respect.
People appreciate honesty and reliability, and they respect those who deliver on their promises.
This is one I know all too well.
I remember a time early in my career when I was eager to prove myself, to show that I had all the answers. I’d often cut people off mid-sentence with my own thoughts and solutions, thinking I was demonstrating my competence.
I was wrong. Failing to listen is a behavior that significantly hampers your ability to gain respect at work.
When you truly listen, you not only gain insights but also show respect for the other person’s ideas and opinions. This builds trust and rapport, which are key to gaining respect.
I learned this lesson the hard way. After a candid feedback session with my manager, I made a conscious effort to improve my listening skills. It wasn’t easy, but I can tell you now—it’s been one of the most beneficial changes I’ve made in my professional life.
When things go wrong, it can be a natural instinct to deflect blame or avoid taking responsibility. However, this behavior is viewed negatively in the workplace and can hinder your ability to gain respect.
Rather than pointing fingers, own up to your mistakes. It might feel uncomfortable in the moment, but in the long run, it demonstrates integrity and earns you respect.
Nobody’s perfect – we all make mistakes. It’s how we handle them that defines us.
This is a huge one.
Whether it’s forgetting to thank a team member for their input or outright taking credit for someone else’s work, this behavior can quickly alienate your colleagues and damage your reputation.
Respect is built on trust and fairness. When you overlook the efforts of others, it sends a message that you’re more focused on your own success than the team’s. Over time, this can create resentment and make others less willing to collaborate with you.
Instead, make it a habit to celebrate the achievements of those around you. A simple “great job” or public acknowledgment in a meeting can go a long way in fostering goodwill and showing that you value your colleagues.
When people feel appreciated, they’re more likely to respect and support you in return
Have you ever found yourself constantly comparing your performance to others or feeling the need to outshine your colleagues at every turn?
While ambition is a great quality, excessive competitiveness can harm your workplace relationships and make it harder to gain respect.
Being overly competitive can create an environment where others feel threatened or undervalued. It can lead to behaviors like withholding information, undermining teammates, or turning every task into a contest. Over time, this erodes trust and paints you as someone more focused on personal victories than team success.
The solution?
Embrace collaboration. Celebrate the successes of others and offer support. When you lift others up and contribute to the team’s overall success, you earn respect as someone who’s not just capable but also generous and confident in their abilities.
In a professional setting, it’s crucial to respect the boundaries of your colleagues. This includes their personal space, time, and even their ideas. Stepping over these boundaries can be seen as intrusive or disrespectful, and it’s a surefire way to lose respect.
For instance, constantly interrupting someone’s work for non-urgent matters, prying into their personal life, or dismissing their opinions during discussions can create tension and make others reluctant to engage with you.
Respecting boundaries shows that you value others’ time and contributions, and it fosters a more comfortable and professional atmosphere.
At the end of the day, we are all humans dealing with our individual challenges. A lack of empathy towards your colleagues can be one of the most damaging behaviors when it comes to gaining respect at work.
Empathy allows us to connect with others on a deeper level, understand their perspectives, and respond in a considerate manner. When you display empathy, people feel valued and understood, and this goes a long way in building respect.
As you navigate your professional journey, remember that respect is earned through consistent behaviors that reveal a character of integrity, humility, and empathy.
And while it may take time to cultivate these behaviors, the payoff in respect and trust from your colleagues is immeasurable.
So as we close this discussion, take a moment to reflect on these behaviors. Which ones do you need to work on? How can you develop a character that commands respect?
The answers to these questions could well be the key to your growth and success at work.
The post 7 behaviors of people who struggle to gain respect at work, says psychology appeared first on Small Business Bonfire.
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