The Business Case for Respect Is Not Enough
Assuming that members of the C-Suite won’t make a move in any direction without a compelling business case for action, I’ve been working for decades to find and present data that convinces leaders that respect and Respectful Leadership™ really do make a powerful, positive difference in what I call the “3 P’s” – partnership, productivity, and performance. At the Center for Respectful...
It Costs You Nothing
When I was growing up in the suburbs of New York City, even though the world’s financial center has a reputation for rudeness, my parents frequently reminded me that I should be polite and respectful to everyone, no matter who they were. “It doesn’t cost you anything to be polite,” my mom used to say. Recently, I learned that there’s a Spanish phrase that’s related to this idea: “Lo cortes no...
Return to Office: A Closer Look at the Latest Trends
Welcome back, colleagues and fellow industry observers! Today, we at the Center for Respectful Leadership are delving into compelling findings on the return-to-office (RTO) policies and hybrid work dynamics that are reshaping our work environments, as highlighted in our latest “The Respectful Leader Emergency Updates” series from March 21, 2024, titled “RTO – Return to...
Respectful Leadership: The Key to Boosting Employee Morale
This article originally appeared in Training Industry on April 10, 2023. You can access it directly here. If you’re like most people these days, you’re busy. Jumping from meeting to meeting, call to call, and email to text, with little time for chit chat or what are quaintly known as “the niceties.” Sometimes even the most common before-the-meeting question, “How are you?” will be skipped in...
How Coaches Can Help Their Clients Admit Biases About Co-Workers
Recently I was talking with another executive coach who asked me, “How do you get your clients to admit their biases about their co-workers?” That’s a good question. My first response was “very carefully.” When we’re calm, cool and not under threat, most of us will admit that we hold some negative biases about others. But usually, these are what I call “acceptable biases,” the ones most people...
Respect On Their Minds
This week I was invited to deliver a pre-keynote warmup and a workshop on respect at a large HR conference. Afterwards, many of the attendees approached me to share their stories and ask for help. Sadly, it appears that our extensive research is on target – today’s workplaces and employees are experiencing unprecedented levels of disrespect not only from customers and patients, but also from...
Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Workplace Culture and Election Politics
Greetings, distinguished HR executives and leaders! It’s a pleasure to connect with you. I’m Gregg Ward, steering the ship at the Center for Respectful Leadership. Today, I’d like to draw your attention to a significant issue at hand — the 2024 elections casting a long shadow over the workplace. First, let me introduce our center, founded half a decade ago. Our mission: to...
How To Create Psychological Safety And Inspire High-Performing Teams
Gregg Ward was featured as a contributor to this Forbes Coaches Council article, read the full article on forbes.com. In psychologically safe work environments, every team member feels confident sharing candid constructive feedback, voicing disagreements and taking ownership of their mistakes. Employees who feel they may face negative consequences for speaking up, on the other hand, will take...
The Leadership Link Between Courage & Respect
In the nuanced tapestry of leadership, the threads of respect and courage are intricately woven together, each amplifying the strength and effectiveness of the other. Leadership, at its core, is not just about making decisions and directing teams toward common goals; it’s about doing so in a way that fosters trust, encourages innovation, and builds a resilient organizational culture....