Respect commands itself and can neither be given nor withheld when it is due.” – Eldridge Cleaver
Respect isn’t just a buzzword at our Center; it’s the currency of the world of work. In our monthly series, “Respectful Leader Emergency Updates,” we cover the most pressing issues HR executives face and highlight paths not just to address but to conquer workplace challenges. Here is a recap from our monthly meeting with leading HR Executives.
Today’s Workplace: A Respect Renaissance
Turn the clocks back a couple of decades, and respect in the workplace was hiding in the chorus, out of the limelight. Fast forward to 2024, and the stage has changed dramatically. As a result, respect has taken the lead role—driving performance, forging partnerships, and fueling productivity.
Where Does Your Mind Wander When We Say “Respect”?
When someone says the word “respect,” do images of civil and cordial interpersonal exchanges come to mind? If so, you’re not alone. Our research clearly indicates that being treated with interpersonal respect is at the forefront of most peoples’ minds. But, respect is about much more than just being “nice.” It also encompasses informational respect including transparency and access to pertinent information, and procedural respect which focuses on pay equity and fair practices in hiring, promotion, discipline, and accountability.
Through our spirited conversations and polls, it’s clear as daylight—that respect is the anchoring force employees seek. And those treated with genuine, interpersonal respect report higher job satisfaction, engagement, and commitment to their organization.
This isn’t just anecdotal; it’s solid data by established researchers who’ve published in the Harvard Business Review, Inc., Fortune and many more. Our Emergency Updates underscores their findings and places respect, health benefits, and work-life balance at the pinnacle of employee motivators.
The Cost of Disrespect and Incivility
Yet, while respect blooms in one garden, incivility’s weeds tangle elsewhere. A staggering 93% of Americans peg disrespect as a malignant tumor in our society, with more than half experiencing it firsthand in alarming frequencies.
And if you were wondering why the best and brightest employees are bidding adieu, look no further than toxic corporate cultures—MIT’s Sloan School of Management tags this as a much stronger factor than compensation in deciding whether to resign. They’ve found that a toxic workplace is ten times more likely to cause someone to quit than how much they’re getting paid.
Navigating Through Waters of Change
Today’s Millennial and Gen Z workforces, schooled during the Great Recession and accustomed to being digital natives and nomads, carry unique expectations. They’ve witnessed how companies are no longer loyal to their employees, and they’re determined to forge their own journeys, where respect is the compass they use to navigate through twelve to fifteen career pitstops.
Other challenges are being tossed into this heady mix. For example, our current VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) business world, coupled with political and societal upheaval, brews up storms of stress, further stirring the pot of workplace disrespect.
Lighting the Path Ahead
To bridge the respect gap, we offer an array of solutions. From our practical and informative “Respectful Leader Workshop” designed for mid-level managers, to our engaging “Roadmap to Respect” eLearning suite, and from our “Coaching for Respect” process to our brand new organizational cultural survey The ARC™ Assessment — we pave a path toward creating workplace cultures of respect.
Interested in championing respect within your organization? Take the helm and guide your ship to respectful shores. Book a discovery call with me and let’s explore how the Center for Respectful Leadership can reinforce the keystone of respect in your company’s foundation.
The respect you give others is a dramatic reflection of the respect you give yourself.” – Robin Sharma
And with that, I extend my gratitude for joining us. Until next time, may respect be both your shield and your beacon.
Remember, as the incomparable Muhammad Ali wisely imparted, respecting yourself and respecting others is the clearest path to a successful and fulfilling journey – in and out of the office.
