Conflict in the workplace has far-reaching consequences that go far beyond transient misunderstandings.
My 20+ years of counseling executives from some of the world’s largest organizations on how respect affects the bottom line informed a lot of our work at The Center for Respectful Leadership. I work in the business ecosystem using two very distinct models – fix it or build it. I can tell you that developing a culture of respect is far more cost effective than correcting a culture of contempt. But so many executive’s don’t understand the Neuroscience of Respect- and then wonder why they cannot hire or why people leave.
But let’s be clear: changing disrespectful cultures begins with the executives’ recognition that there is a problem and that they are a part of it. Many things might happen from the bottom up, but buy-in almost always begins at the top.
It may be pretty simple to determine the quality or quantity of your team’s results (or lack thereof). But, what if it was feasible to pinpoint critical information? Here’s what we know based on extensive data and research:
- When company culture is built on respect, there are no bottlenecks and the work gets done without passive aggressive speedbumps.
- Meetings are productive, deadlines are met and there’s a palpable sense that the team is united by a singular goal.
- A respectful company culture fosters creativity and allows employees to be their best selves, helping the organization grow with them.
But how do you know if disrespect is costing your company its most precious resources, and what can you do to fix it?
I’ve outlined what I believe are the specific 5 Ways Disrespect in Your Company is Costing You here.
