Respect at Workplace: Is a two way traffic

A respectful workplace culture values respect for each other and encourages everyone to contribute to the organization’s success.

When you treat your employees with respect, they’re likely to return that respect for you.

Furthermore, it’s about having high levels of trust among employees and an environment where employees feel safe and comfortable working together.

A respectful workplace is one:

• that fosters a feeling of safety and security,
• where employees feel comfortable and confident,
• where they know that the company cares about them as people, and
• where people felt listened to and heard.

However, building a respectful workplace isn’t easy, but following these tips can help you reach your goals.

1. Diversity and inclusion:

A diverse workforce brings together a broad range of perspectives, skills, styles of working and personal identities. This varied mix is a source of strength and innovation in a healthy company.

To fully benefit from a diverse workforce, it’s crucial that all different cultures and identities are treated with an attitude of mutual respect, so that each person feels a sense of belonging.

When employees feel confident that their unique point of view is welcomed and taken on board by other team members without prejudice or stereotyping, they are more likely to voice ideas and feel valued.

2. Constructive Criticism:

Constructive feedback is a cornerstone of respect in the workplace because it takes the focus away from individual points of view and reframes conflicts in terms of a shared goal. When giving constructive feedback or constructive criticism, the key is to deliver actionable points that the other person might use to improve, rather than telling them what they did wrong.

3. Equal opportunity:

Equality between employees doesn’t mean erasing their differences. It means making sure that each person has an equal chance of success, and that they are judged on their professional merits and the results they can achieve, rather than on certain characteristics or relationships.

To offer equal opportunities to everyone, leaders and managers must be scrupulous when considering internal promotions or external hires to make sure they avoid nepotism or favoritism. When personal ties and friendships, shared culture and background or even office politics get in the way, businesses are at risk of treating people unfairly, which can amount to discrimination.

4. Respectful communication:

Communicating respectfully should be a given when it comes to everyday interactions. Greeting people pleasantly, allowing others to speak or finish their piece during group discussions, and avoiding profanity are all hallmarks of a positive workplace.

But it’s when things become tense that respectful communication really comes into its own.

It’s entirely normal to become frustrated when things don’t go to plan or when mistakes and miscommunications disrupt your progress. But it’s what you do with that emotion that matters.

In a respectful workplace, inevitable points of friction such as disagreements, mistakes and personal feelings are handled without resorting to blame or aggression.

Respect helps employees develop skills like being able to actively listen, rather than just waiting to make their points, which can improve communication and strengthen relationships.