Earning Respect

Do your employees respect you?

It’s an interesting question, and one you many not have thought about. I truly believe that you must earn respect. It’s not something that is automatic.

Earning respect comes from:

• Being respectful of your employees. Respect works both ways. You need to give respect to get it.

• Keeping your promises. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

• Be fair and consistent in your leadership. It’s just as important to be a coach as it is to be a manager.

• Listening to your staff. They often have great ideas and suggestions. In fact, allow them to try some of their ideas even if you don’t think they will work. Employees will gain confidence, loyalty, and know that you care about their ideas.

• Recognizing and acknowledging what your employees do to make your practice run smoothly.

• Being part of the team. By eliminating the “them and us” factor, you allow employees to see that you will pitch in when needed. That also means to be visible during the day. Walk the floors to see what is happening. Lead by example.

Not all of your employees will like you, and that is ok. There is a difference between liking and respecting. You should work towards being respected.

What are the ways you look to earn respect from your staff? Email me at donna@officemanagementsolution.com.