Show respect in the workplace

There are various factors that contribute to a workplace in which both employers and employees constitute a happy and friendly relationship. One of the most important factors is the mutual respect between all the relevant people who have to work together on a daily basis. Where respect doesn’t exist, people don’t trust each other and the relationships deteriorate to the detriment of the whole company.

What is mutual respect and how can it be valued?
Respect is basically the potential in all people to hold others in esteem and to appreciate one another for what they are and how they function. Everyone in the workplace should accommodate each other without the loss of own values and principles.

One of the main requirements of respect is that every individual should earn it by way of the consideration he or she has for others and their unique personalities and character traits, and to respect the differences there may be. This includes their appearance, personal belongings, values, opinions and intellectual as well as emotional well-being.

How to stimulate mutual respect in the workplace

• • Good and healthy communication prevents disrespect. Employers and employees are all responsible to communicate positively to prevent misunderstandings and bad behaviour such as interrupting others while they are speaking.

• • Any person who experiences that he or she is being ignored, or that that his or her viewpoints and contributions don’t count, will become irritable or frustrated in a way that affects all others.

• • Everybody has the right to his or her private life and private space. Invading another’s privacy is a way of demonstrating disrespect. Therefore, avoid asking personal questions, making personal comments or staring at a person or his or her belongings

• • Discourage gossip. Gossip undermines every effort to establish mutual respect. When people experience that they cannot trust their fellow employees or their employer, they become unhappy and distrustful.

• • Understand that nobody is able to be emotionally the same day after day. Co-employees and employers should always be on the lookout for signs of overstress or other possible causes of unhappiness. If necessary, the person can be referred to the EAP for professional assistance.

• • Limit criticism. More understanding and support and less criticism will lead to confidence, trust and therefore mutual respect. This is especially necessary where newly appointed employees are struggling to adjust. They need all the support they can get from both employer and fellow employees.

• • Make room for diversity. In the workplace there is always a variety concerning race, gender, age and other differences that bring unique talents, experiences and knowledge to the workplace. Racism, sexism and disregard to age will disturb relationships and are signs of disrespect.

Powerful approach
In the work place everyone has the responsibility to be effective and at the same time be a guardian for everybody else. Where this occurs, employees enjoy their duties, relationships improve and happiness increases. The level of personal respect is a matter of attitude and willingness to accommodate others in such a way that they automatically sense the full power of respect.

Every employer as well as employee have the power in him or herself to minimise strife and hostility by increasing courtesy and mutual respect. The secret lies in using this power positively for the benefit of all.