1. DEMONSTRATE YOUR WORTH AND
VALUE AS AN EMPLOYEE.

The process of gaining respect from
both colleagues and superiors begins
from the moment you first enter the
workplace, and you must immediately
demonstrate an understanding of your worth and unique value as an
employee. This must not only be
reflected in the salary that you demand from your managers, but also in the way that you undertake your role and add value to the business through the completion of individual tasks that fall within your job description.

2. INTERACT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES
AND CARE AbOUT THEIR LIVES.

Even with the best of intentions, our
lives can sometimes take an unwanted or potentially disruptive turn. This can make it difficult to attend work with a smile and a proactive attitude, but this is crucial if you want to retain the respect of those around you. By continuing to interact with your colleagues and taking a genuine interest in their lives–even during times of hardship–you are displaying an eminently human quality that commands the good will of others.

3. SPEAK CALMLY AND LISTEN TO
OTHERS.

Respect must always be a mutual
concept, as you cannot hope to gain it
without offering it in the first instance.
It is therefore crucial that you remain a good listener at all times, and take the opinions of others on board before
taking a direct action or decision. On a similar note, you must always speak
calmly when interacting with both
colleagues and superiors, as otherwise you run the risk of alienating them and developing a reputation as someone who is difficult to work with.

4. ALWAYS SMILE DURING TIMES OF TRIUMPH.

While the world of work can be
challenging, this should not detract
from those occasions where you
achieve a goal or successfully complete a project. It is important to celebrate these moments, both as an individual and as part of a larger team. A warm and positive smile serves to underline a job well done. This will help to foster greater levels of morale over time, while it will also cement your position as a popular and well-respected employee.

5. DEAL WITH ADVERSITY IN A SIMILAR
MANNER.

Just as professional sportsmen are
tested more in defeat than they are in
victory, so too the average employee
must dig deeper during adversity than in times of prosperity. You must treat both of these entities with a positive and proactive attitude, and maintain your smile even during challenging and difficult times. Your ability to maintain a focused and level head will only boost the esteem in which you are held; this is also a key attribute to have in the business world.

6. GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF
DUTY.

Whenever you start a job, you are
given a basic salary and a job
description that outlines the tasks
under your control. As you develop
relationships with those around you
and earn greater levels of responsibility, however, you must be
willing to operate outside of these
boundaries and do more than is
expected of you. Whether this is
covering for an unforeseen absence or
completing a project within a specified
deadline, your willingness to go above
and beyond the call of duty will ensure that you remain well-respected among your peers.

7. MAKE COLLABORATION A KEY ASPECT
OF YOUR WORK LIFE.

On a similar note, there may also be
instances where it is necessary to work on a collaborative project with different colleagues and departments. This can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with their working methods or prefer to operate on an independent basis. Earning universal respect requires you to communicate with people across multiple levels,
regardless of status or pre-existing
relationship. With this in mind, you
must always be open to collaboration
and strive to work effectively with any
kind of team.

8. ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES AND
UNDERSTAND YOUR LIMITS.

Achieving respect in the workplace is a delicate balancing act, as while you
must be willing to take on additional
work and collaborate, it is also
important that you prioritise your own
professional goals. You must strive to
understand your limits and establish
boundaries as an employee, as this
ensures that your position is never
compromised by taking on too heavy a workload. If you fail to do this, you will quickly find yourself overwhelmed and at the mercy of more selfish and
manipulative colleagues.

9. PRACTICE THE VIRTUE OF PATIENCE.

Professional respect relies on your
ability to showcase both compassion
and understanding, as you must make the most of your colleagues’ strengths while also making allowances for their weaknesses. Everyone brings a unique skill-set to the workplace, while each individual also works at his or her own pace. It is crucial that you are patient
when dealing with colleagues and
superiors, as this enables you to
become a productive and respected
member of a multi-layered organisation.

10. AVOID THE PERILS OF OFFICE GOSSIP.

While office gossip can occasionally be
fun and even insightful, it must be
avoided at all costs if you are to be
respected as a trustworthy and
conscientious employee. Not only does a willingness to engage in gossip
suggest that you are incapable of
discreetly managing potentially
sensitive information, but it also
creates the impression of someone who has a less than dedicated approach to their work. Neither of these attributes are likely to inspire respect within the workplace, especially if you are based in a relatively small office where
behaviour can be easily analysed.

11. DEAL WITH CONFLICT IN A PROACTIVE AND MATURE MANNER.

Rather like gossip, conflict is an
inevitable and yet unpleasant aspect of any busy workplace. While the former can be avoided, the latter cannot and it is how you handle professional conflict that determines whether or not you are likely to earn the respect of your colleagues. By adopting a proactive
approach and confronting such conflict
in a mature manner, for example, you
can achieve an amicable resolution and
easily earn the respect of those around
you. This is crucial; it can also help to
strengthen professional relationships
over time.

12. BECOME A PROBLEM SOLVER.

As I touched on earlier, professional
respect can also be achieved simply by
adding unique value to the workplace.
While you can do this by undertaking
your role tenaciously and effectively, it
is also possible to become a talented
problem solver with skills in analytical
thinking, strategizing, and negotiation.
Every workplace needs a proactive
problem solver, so by taking on the
mantle and fulfilling this need you can
gain new found respect among your
colleagues.

Great

Educative and Insightful


[size=15pt]#SUGARBEE[/size]

noted

Insightful. Thanks

Will implement them