We can all agree that the first thing employees consider in a job is compensation and benefits. After all, who wouldn’t want to work for a company that could provide them the life of Riley — or an easy and pleasant life? Especially for new job-hunters, they’re always in search of a company that would compensate well in exchange for their talents and knowledge. But as you grow older, you’ll realize that it’s not enough to be paid right. It’s not enough to work for a big company that pays well. In the end, one of the reasons for high employee retention is when employees feel that they’re treated with respect in the workplace.
If you were to ask anyone in the workforce what they desire from their superiors, most of them would want to be treated with respect and nobility. Unfortunately, half of the employees claim that they don’t get treated with respect in the workplace by their leaders. This is notable considering how employees report that being treated with respect is the most important behavior that every leader should manifest in the workplace.
On the other hand, respectful behaviors aren’t limited to upper management and HR employees. Anyone at any level in the organization can and must show respect for others.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the importance of respect in the workplace and how to implement it.
Importance of Respect in the Workplace
1. Respect in the workplace contributes to job satisfaction.
In a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), it states that respectful treatment of employees regardless of their level is “very important” to overall employee job satisfaction.
When employees treat each other with respect, it makes them happy with their work, making them proud of what they have accomplished. This sense of satisfaction can benefit employers in the long run. Unlike in workplaces with little or no respect, employees report more conflicts and have lower attendance and engagement.
2. Workplace respect creates a fair environment.
One of the best things that an employer can offer is the opportunity for the employees to showcase their skills and knowledge. Being respectful prevents people to play favorites. That means everyone can have the chance to stand tall in the spotlight and let their voices be heard. And in the right setting, they can bloom when they are allowed to contribute fairly and squarely.
3. Respect increases employee engagement and collaboration.
When you turn to your colleagues for help and get their opinions on various problems, it means that you respect them and their abilities. As a result, it leads to more innovative solutions and increased collaboration, which can help them finish their work faster and more efficiently. Soon enough, there could be cross-training across all parts of your companies with the help of your collaborative employees.
4. Respect reduces stress.
Both respect and stress reduction are exceptionally important for the overall health of your employees. When employees feel respected, they feel more comfortable sharing ideas and working with their teammates to meet their goals. Improved respect and reduced stress also play an essential impact on the mental as well as physical health of employees.
When employees feel respected, they can freely do their jobs without the fear of being criticized. Respect is important in the workplace because it makes them feel relaxed, and they can be themselves without the stress of feeling that they need to overwork just to prove their worth.
Simple Ways to Show Respect in the Workplace
So how can you show respect in the workplace? There are some universal ways to do so, including the following:
1. Practice basic courtesy and politeness.
Most of the time, people define respect as “being courteous or polite.” Coincidentally, these are two elements that make up a successful workplace. People are more inclined to help you if you are polite.
There are ways you can show politeness, like asking your coworkers politely for help and thanking them for a nice thing they’ve done. It may look so simple, but it can have a big impact on a good workplace relationship.
2. Be transparent with each other.
People feel respected when they are trusted with information. This way, they can see the bigger picture and larger goals of the company. By being honest and transparent with each other, it proves that you trust your employees enough to share information and you want to work toward the goals together.
You can show transparency by sending regular updates on a project and explaining why it’s important to take these certain steps to complete a task.
3. Pay attention to nonverbal communication.
Respect is not only limited to verbal communication — it also applies to nonverbal communication and body language. You can support your colleagues and be as respectful even without talking.
Make sure that you think about how you interact with your colleagues. Do you interact with them in a respectful manner? Some examples of nonverbal respect include making eye contact when someone’s talking to you and nodding to prove that you are actively listening.
4. Delegate significant tasks
When everyone works together, tasks can be done on time. Plus, you’re able to meet the goals of the organization as well as your clients. But delegating tasks not only makes you effective. It also shows that you respect them enough to assign them an important task.
If a colleague offers to help with your workload, give them work that is relevant to their jobs and field. This will help them in their respective careers, just be sure to delegate tasks the right way.
5. Help each other.
We are bound to make mistakes at times. But don’t fret and worry. If they make mistakes, be respectful enough to acknowledge their failures and build them up to overcome potential problems in the future. If they are struggling, offer them a helping hand, so you can accomplish your goals together in no time.