How to Gain Respect at the Workplace: A Guide for Employees

Gaining respect from colleagues and managers is crucial for succeeding in any workplace. When you have earned respect your voice gets heard, your contributions get recognized and you have influence. Unfortunately, respect is something that has to be earned – it is not freely given just because of one’s job title.

Follow this comprehensive guide to learn proven tips for gaining respect at your workplace through your skills, attitude, communication style and conduct on the job.

What Does It Mean to Be Respected at Work?

Being respected at work means that others

• Value your input and expertise
• Consider you a credible professional they can rely on
• Appreciate your work ethic and dedication
• Trust your judgement and capabilities
• Treat you with courtesy and consideration
• Support your growth and development

Without workplace respect, you can feel marginalized, overlooked and undervalued – which takes a toll on job satisfaction and performance But gaining respect transforms those relationships

Why Gaining Respect Matters

Beyond feeling valued, having respect at work provides important benefits:

• Your ideas and needs are heard: Managers and coworkers will listen when you speak up, ask questions or make suggestions. You have real influence.

• Access to key assignments and projects: You’ll be top of mind for exciting opportunities to showcase your skills because you’re seen as capable.

• Input on decisions: Your perspectives will be solicited for key initiatives and your advice carries weight in determining direction.

• More support for your development: Greater investment will be made to develop your skills and elevate your career potential when you’ve earned respect.

• Enhanced leadership ability: Respect facilitates motivating and guiding others. Your team will look to you as an example.

The bottom line is that gaining respect unlocks your potential to thrive and advance at work. The question is: how do you earn it?

How to Gain Respect from Colleagues

Follow these tips for earning the respect of peers:

1. Deliver Consistently Excellent Work

The foundation of respect is doing your job exceptionally well. Produce work that colleagues recognize as thorough, error-free and demonstrably adding value. Make it clear you have the skills and dedication to excel in your role.

2. Support Colleagues Unselfishly

Go out of your way assist teammates without expecting anything in return. Your sole motivation is their success and the team’s shared goals. This builds trust in your character.

3. Share Your Expertise Openly

Don’t hoard your knowledge and skills. Offer to mentor and train others proactively. Your aim is to elevate the whole team.

4. Show Empathy in Interactions

Demonstrate genuine interest in understanding colleagues’ perspectives. Check in on their progress and challenges. Little things like remembering someone’s birthday go a long way.

5. Admit Mistakes Openly

Made an error? Own up to it right away. Don’t make excuses or blame others. Discuss how you’ll avoid repeating the mistake. This humility and accountability earns respect.

6. Give Recognition Liberally

Notice people’s accomplishments both big and small. Thank colleagues for their contributions and praise them to your manager and their manager.

7. Keep Confidences Private

If colleagues share confidential issues or concerns with you, keep it between you. Don’t break trust by spreading gossip.

Making these practices habits will elevate how coworkers see you.

How to Gain Respect from Your Manager

Managers determine opportunities and advancement. Follow these guidelines for earning their respect:

1. Achieve Consistent Success

Producing excellent work consistently on assignments shows you can be trusted to handle greater responsibilities. Don’t wait for recognition; proactively share your wins.

2. Come Prepared to Meetings

Thorough preparation demonstrates you value your manager’s time. Arrive ready to actively engage with thoughtful ideas that exhibit sound judgement.

3. Request Responsibility

Don’t wait for new opportunities to be handed to you. Politely request high-visibility projects that will showcase new capabilities.

4. Follow Through on Commitments

Honor your word consistently. If a commitment needs adjusting, take ownership of renegotiating timelines or deliverables before missing them.

5. Elevate Team Morale

Uplift colleagues and create a positive team culture. Your manager will take notice of how you enhance the group and faculty leader.

6. Accept Constructive Feedback

Humbly listen when your manager provides critical feedback. Demonstrate you appreciate their perspective and ask for guidance on improving.

7. Solve Problems Proactively

When facing obstacles, take the initiative to devise solutions. Present well thought out recommendations to your manager for buy-in.

Gaining influence starts with earning your own manager’s respect.

How to Gain Respect as a New Employee

When you’re new, you have to put in extra effort to establish credibility and trust. Here’s how:

Observe Existing Dynamics

Before suggesting changes, humbly learn how things function and why. Understand the team’s values and processes first.

Align with Company Culture

Observe how seasoned colleagues conduct themselves and interact. Adapt your style to fit the culture.

Limit Confidence Displays

Excessive confidence before proving yourself can read as arrogance. Focus on doing, not talking. Let your work demonstrate your capability.

Ask Thoughtful Questions

Inquire about projects and goals to understand objectives, context and reasoning. Thoughtful questions show interest, not ignorance.

Contribute Discretely

Offer ideas and input, but don’t try to take center stage too soon. Build influence gradually.

Express Appreciation

Graciously thank colleagues who help orient you and make you feel welcome.

With patience and strategy, you’ll earn respect quickly as the new person.

How to Regain Respect After Losing It

What if you feel you’ve lost the respect of colleagues? It happens – but you regain it by:

Reflecting

Carefully examine your conduct to understand why respect was lost – and own it. Don’t blame others.

Apologizing Sincerely

Fully own past mistakes and apologize directly. Don’t make excuses.

Listening

Give colleagues space to voice hurt or frustration. Don’t interrupt.

Stating Your Commitment

Tell colleagues clearly how you intend to correct the problematic behaviors going forward. Then walk that talk.

Following Through

Day by day, rebuild trust by keeping your word and acting consistently with stated intentions.

Being Patient

Recognize respect may come slowly. Don’t expect overnight forgiveness. Earning back trust requires perseverance.

Keep going and know that respect can grow again when the above actions become your habit.

How to Address Disrespect at Work

Despite your best efforts, you may experience disrespectful treatment from some individuals. Address it professionally by:

• Staying calm: Don’t retaliate or grow defensive. Keep your tone and body language neutral.

• Stating expectations: Politely but firmly tell the person their specific behavior was disrespectful and needs to stop.

• Being solution-oriented: Invite a constructive discussion focused on resolving the issue. Suggest remedies to prevent future disrespect.

• Involving others: If one-on-one resolution isn’t working, carefully escalate the issue through proper channels per company policy.

• Documenting incidents: Keep written records of all occurrences with specifics like time, place witnesses and exactly what the person did.

• Seeking mentoring: Ask a respected leader to mentor you on gracefully handling difficult colleagues.

Don’t tolerate ongoing disrespect that creates a hostile work environment. Handle it professionally yet swiftly.

Key Takeaways

Gaining respect transforms your capacity to thrive at work. Follow these core principles:

• Let your excellence, empathy and integrity shine consistently. Don’t posture.
• Make supporting others central to how you work. Offer help abundantly.
• Take ownership of mistakes. View them as opportunities to improve.
• Handle disrespect immediately, but with poise. Don’t retaliate.
• Know gaining deep respect takes time. Be patient yet persistent.

Respect opens the door to work that’s meaningful, fulfilling and empowered. You must earn respect – but the rewards are well worth the effort.