Earn Your Respect, Don’t Demand It

In the small business workplace, there are two types of management styles; those that bark orders and expect respect, and those that lead and earn respect. At one time or another, most of us have worked for the type of person who liked to show dominance and pride in the workplace; someone who liked to let everyone in the office know exactly who was in charge. While having an office full of employees that jump when you say so may seem like captaining a tightly run ship, running your business like a dictator will only be helpful in the short term and end up costing you in the long run.

I recently consulted with a company that was frustrated over their employees’ low morale. The employees didn’t have the same excitement toward the business that the owners did; they never wanted to stay late when needed, turnover was high, and the overall culture within the company was far from exciting or inviting. While the owners of the company felt respected because everyone jumped at orders, that perception was far from reality. They were not respected, they were feared and incredibly disliked.

I’m the Boss

In my experience, people that run their businesses with the “I’m the Boss” attitude on their sleeve may run a tight ship and get things done, but if the ship becomes distressed, the crew is quick to bail. This management style creates a workplace environment of dislike, discontentment, distrust and lacking of respect and commitment. Moral will be low and performance may be “good enough” but never great. This can lead to many potential problems down the road. Turnover rates will be higher. It will be harder to hire new employees, and when your company needs that “little extra” to keep moving forward, good luck trying to find it among unhappy employees.

Leaders that Earn Respect

An employee of a leader that earns respect will bring a completely different approach and commitment to their work. Having a true leader in the workplace will result in employees over-achieving, giving more to their position, caring more about the work they do, and working smarter- not just harder. Employees working under this type of leader will have a higher level of respect for management, and a greater appreciation and dedication towards their company. Employees with great leaders will genuinely care about their jobs at a much higher level, and will be more willing to go above and beyond not only when it’s asked of them, but even when it is not. Employees will be more excited to come to work, more positive at work and more eager to stick around for the long haul. Not only will your employee turnover be less, but filling future positions will be much easier. And, when you need that little bit extra, it will be a team effort and your employees will be “all-in.”

I am regularly discussing business life, strategies, and decisions with other entrepreneurs. Whether you facing an existing obstacle, or perhaps an ongoing concern, sometimes an outside viewpoint that otherwise may not have been considered may be the difference of where your company will be headed tomorrow. The approaches to making decisions and strategizing your business is almost unlimited. If you would like further ideas or guidance, feel free to contact Jim Schmitz for additional information by submitting this contact form. Jim will be in contact with you promptly.

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