If you think your employees don't respect you, there are a number of possible reasons. When you miss a deadline, don't make excuses or assume no one noticed. Don’t completely rule out organizational changes, either. During discipline, let the employee know that there will be consequences if the insubordination continues and remind him of his job's responsibilities. The Meaning of Respect in the Workplace . Do you actually listen when they come to you with ideas? Make sure you have enough sleep and stick to a healthy diet. Raising your voice, pointing your finger, or speaking disrespectfully to the other person will add fuel to an already heated situation. And you know what happens when people feel like they're always falling short? Respect is earned and too many leaders take their titles and authority for granted. 3. You can listen and empathize, but you can’t budge when it comes to your values or … He writes, "The key insight here is simple: you will be a more effective leader if, rather than doing the work yourself, you let other people do it. This doesn't mean allowing yourself to become a scapegoat; it does mean claiming your mistakes as your own. Be prepared for difficult people with clever responses on your phone or device at any time or anywhere. According to one study, self-awareness in company leaders not only leads to increased respect, but to better strategic and financial results. If this doesn't work, it may be time to begin documenting behaviors in preparation for eventual disciplinary action. Instead, make it a priority to show respect, recognition, and care for every individual on your team. If your employees don’t feel that you respect them, they’re not likely to reciprocate and extend respect. Once you've taken measures to create a positive work environment but to no avail, it's time to have a stern talk with the unhappy employee. Employees tend to feel more positive when they believe their opinions matter to the organization as a whole. Help employees learn the difference. If this describes you, then you will do anything you can to avoid anything that even remotely resembles a confrontation. When you respect people, you don't waste their time. One of the easiest ways for someone to avoid giving you what you need is if you leave them room for plausible deniability. [15] These leaders are also more able to entertain the idea that someone on their team may have an idea that is even better than their own.". 7. If you find that an employee is behaving disrespectfully, you'll get further by simply communicating with that employee. And this is weird because, well, see above. If you’ve lost respect for leadership, don’t let it impact your work ethic. You can demonstrate respect with simple, yet powerful actions. Someone once said, "A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected." There’s just one thing: No one seems to respect you—not your co-workers, not your boss, and not even the intern whose sole responsibility seems to be sucking up to his superiors. You can try every trick in the book, but sometimes, there is nothing you can do to make interacting with people you don't like any easier to tolerate. Respect is critical to a functional, healthy workplace. Show them the appreciation they deserve by being generous with your praise and encouragement, and by letting them know how integral they are to the success of your business. Mention specific instances when you felt the employee behaved inappropriately toward you, and let the employee know that while you're available to discuss any issues the employee is having, you expect a certain level of respect in return. You don't let your employees play to their strengths. But if they don’t respect you, you’ll have trouble succeeding.” If they refuse to respect you or try to agitate you further, the best thing you can do for everyone is simply to remove yourself from the situation. Why are they still working for you? Bosses: Sometimes they don’t get no respect. Failure to communicate could lead to an escalation of the problem until it spreads to the rest of the team, as well. If you don't respect your employees, I can guarantee they aren't going to respect you. Recognize that, like you, your coworkers, reports, and superiors have rights, opinions, wishes, experience, and competence. When you don’t get mad every time, you will see how people start trusting you and talking more with you. Even if the employee is throwing insults and negative comments your way, you should keep your temper in check and show only your most professional face. A great leader graciously accepts her fair share of the responsibility when things go wrong. If you don’t give praise when it is due or if you don’t show your employees that you respect them … In his book, Do Nothing: How to Stop Over Managing and Become a Great Leader, J. Keith Murnighan stresses the importance of delegating tasks to competent staff. 9. If you micromanage your employees, you'll probably find they begin to resent your interference. Call occasional meetings to not only have your employees share what they're doing but also to detail what you're doing. Improve your leadership skills You don't appreciate your employees (or at least you don't show it). They will likely top their list with the desire to be treated with dignity and respect. Insubordination can be a disciplinary behavior, especially when the behavior is in direct opposition to an employee's documented job description. A strong leader doesn't shy away from uncomfortable situations, but instead approaches them confidently and with an eye to rectifying the situation. Effective communication is a skill, and one that must be practiced over time. Fifty-four percent of employees don’t feel respected by their bosses, a 2014 Harvard Business Review survey found. However, on the off-chance that you aren’t a puppy-kicking tyrant, here are 7 reasons your employees don’t respect you. Being a leader who's worthy of respect means taking responsibility for your mistakes, giving your employees the freedom to shine and providing strong but collaborative leadership. Be crystal clear about what you need and why. Through transformational leadership, leaders are more likely to create empowered, motivated employees who know their place within the organization. 2. As you've probably learned, sometimes you have an employee who doesn't respect you. “If your team respects you, they’ll go above and beyond for you. If you suspect this respect is lacking, here are 10 possible reasons why. Sometimes, if it comes down to it, you can improve employee focus and the workplace dynamic by reorganizing teams. Instead of publicly chastising the employee, wait until the meeting is complete and schedule a private meeting in your office. Bosses come and go and, in the end, you need to … If you yell at your employees, disrespect them in front of their peers, you will immediately be known as a ‘bad boss’. A sure sign that your boss feels this way about you is if he makes hurtful and rude jokes at your expense to make you feel bad and taunt you. You don’t want to say you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to the company, but you also don’t want to lie. Share below! Apologize and do better next time--just like you expect your employees to do. The promise of power can be alluring, but the reality of being responsible for a team of employees may not be as glamorous as you imagined. Expecting your employees to be conscientious and to do their best is reasonable; demanding perfection is not. It can stem from the organizational culture, or just some bad eggs in the workplace. Instead of assuming you know everything about everything, be realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses. Respect yourself as a person and respect your body as well. If you have to deal with someone who won’t respect boundaries and who gives you a hard time, our bundle Snappy Comebacks any Situation can help you out. Again, there’s power … Work closely with a mentor. It can be obvious or dangerously subtle. In some instances, the supervisor shares the blame in creating an environment of disrespect. Never let anyone treat you badly and take advantage of you. These 8 ways will help you become the perfect leader that your employee respect: 1. Manipulators have a way of skirting blame and pointing fingers at other people. Think if there are steps you can take to improve your attitude or conduct that may alter your boss’s attitude or manner towards you. This is not altogether surprising as executives who are aware of their weaknesses are often better able to hire subordinates who perform well in categories in which the leader lacks acumen. File a Complaint You have the right to be treated with respect in the workplace. Initially, try asking the employee to express any concerns and offer to repair any issues you can. Your employees are watching you to see if you practice what you preach. One of the best pieces of business advice I've ever received is this: "Hire people smarter than yourself." Pay attention when your employees tell you about their child being sick, or having to put their dog down, or their spouse being laid off. When you're constantly tearing apart their work or nitpicking at tiny details, you tell them they can never be good enough. Invest in you; it will make you more resilient to negativity in your workplace. Staff may respect you because you're a director, but I would never rely on positional authority. Don’t make comments or innuendos that are gender biased – you don’t have to come across as an MCP or as a bra-burning feminist either. I guess the question is, if you really don't respect them, why did you hire them? If you notice your team is pulling this on you, it’s time to think hard about how they perceive your role and management style—and why. Pursue your education or develop a new skill. Don’t create a situation where the person can reasonably claim that they didn’t know what you needed from them, its importance, or when you needed it by. Through being too lax in your management style, you may be encouraging an environment in which employees feel as though they have little guidance. A boss who does not respect you or hates you will use his authority and position to turn the others in the company against you and to get people to make a laughing stock of you. You expect your employees to communicate with you in an efficient manner, but do you pay them the same courtesy? By helping the employee see the impact these negative behaviors have on the team as a whole, you may be able to curtail the problem before it gets worse. Express your concern, and remember to check in later to see how things are going. The true test of your abilities as a leader is how gracefully you handle difficult employees of all types. Ideally, everyone you ever hire will have the utmost respect for you and your management style. Secondly, don’t talk about the issue at work. Click here to read more about how to handle difficult conversations. Employees don’t have to be best friends; they just need to get the job done. If you are dealing with a manipulator, both of these statements will be true. Keep gender out of it. But the tradeoff is that you have extremely high-quality individuals working on your behalf, and you can give them the freedom to play to their strengths. You're bound to fail them from time to time, just as they're bound to fail you. Disrespect can manifest itself in all sorts of ways in the office. Use a low, calm, even monotone voice. Do you no longer ask for their opinions or consult them before you make decisions? Regardless of how you feel about them in any given moment, treating them with a basic level of respect is absolutely critical. The 2021 Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Nice people often don’t get the respect they deserve, while those who are respected have the luxury to be nice. Whether you actually need to change or you're just dealing with rude coworkers, it's important not to kid yourself. 1. They’ll blame you and other people for everything from why they don’t make enough money in their jobs to why they couldn’t get concert tickets on Saturday night. You Are Too Nice! When it comes to dealing with difficult co-workers who try to walk all over you by demanding you do things for them or show you little to no respect… To ensure you handle things as professionally as possible, here are a few tips for managing these challenging workers. DO NOT Mistreat your employees. Respect often must be earned, even in the workplace. 7. Outline the duties of that specific job and make sure the employee has the support necessary to complete those duties. The solution: Talk to people like people – don’t think or classify them into genders and then talk accordingly. What are some other reasons employers lose the respect of their employees? Even if you are high on the organizational chart doesn’t mean that you deserve respect from your employees and colleagues. So in order to make this whole employee/employer relationship work and thrive, you're going to need a strong foundation of trust and respect. Read also – 4 Ways to Know If You Are Underestimating Yourself. How to Deal With an Employee Who Doesn’t Respect You Employee Workforce Respect Is a Two-Way Street. A person who feels appreciated will also naturally feel more of an affinity and respect for the one doing the appreciating. It would be unrealistic to think you need to know everything about your employees' personal lives. Being the boss isn't all fun and games. But do you hold yourself to the same standards? Respect is a two-way street. A little care and concern goes a long way to earning the trust and respect of your staff. As difficult as it may be, it's important to avoid lowering yourself to the employee's level. Great leaders are able to accurately gauge their own skills and abilities. How to Manage an Employee Who Doesn't Respect You | Inc.com Your colleagues, co-workers, and other employees will likely take note of  your reactions to a disrespectful employee's treatment of you. 1. If discipline should become necessary, having your expectations of that employee clearly outlined in writing will help. They Don’t Keep You in the Loop Learning to keep your calm and to handle situations constructively will make people respect you. Calling them out in front of customers, failing to recognize their achievements, and not listening to their feedback are all signs you don't respect them. By consistently avoiding conflict, you send the message that you're not confident in yourself or in your decisions. “Business is a team sport,” points out Jodi Glickman, communications expert and CEO of leadership development firm Great on the Job. Always treat people the way you want to be treated—with respect. It’s critical to remain a top performer. A good manager doesn’t need to be anyone’s best friend, but she should command at least enough respect to have her presence acknowledged. This trust may lead an employee to rebel against the oversight, to lash out at you instead of simply asking to be entrusted with more responsibility. Getting your employees to respect you is all about earning that respect. Ask anyone in your workplace what treatment they most want at work. They also make mistakes, which are simply lessons to be learned. When even one of your staff members has issues with you for any reason, that employee can lower overall morale and make your job much more difficult. People will never respect you if you don`t respect yourself. Offloading blame onto your employees not only ensures they won't respect you, it also sets the standard for acceptable office behavior. In other words, hire the most qualified people for the job and then give them the freedom to do what they do best. If your efforts are still not effective in improving the employee's overall attitude, you'll probably have to initiate disciplinary action. You don't care about their personal lives. Attitudes can be subjective, so it's important to focus on specific behaviors. As difficult as it is to lose an employee, the loss may be a relief if the employee is a toxic influence on the office as a whole. One of the easiest ways for you to get the respect that you are craving from your employees is to appreciate them and show them how much they mean to you. Great leaders aren't afraid to bring up difficult issues or to be confrontational (when necessary). You expect your employees to show up for work on time, to meet their deadlines and to do what they've promised to do. Hire people who can fill the gaps, and then trust them to do their jobs. Respect yourself. As leaders in today’s trustworthy and transparent workplaces, it’s crucial that you be responsible for your actions … At the least, they lose respect for you; at worst, they stop trying or even quit. If you don't respect your employees, I can guarantee they aren't going to respect you. You're a fallible human being managing a team of fallible human beings. This should be presented as soon as possible after a new worker is hired and revisited at least once a year to ensure those expectations are being met. Here are 10 of the most common ones--and how to overcome them. If your team thinks that you no longer value their input or care how your decisions affect them, it will be hard – if not impossible – for them to think that you … But there's a big difference between knowing everything and caring about the things you do know. 5 Steps For Dealing With Resistant Employees In Times Of Change. According to recent research by Harvard Business Review, over half (54%) of employees feel they don't regularly get respect from their employers. Do you respond promptly to their emails? Get to know who they are as people. Respect is not handed down to you. Thank them for their efforts and results. Your employees are the ones who are helping you grow your business. This means being more selective about who you hire, and paying your employees what they're worth.