Top 5 Reasons Why Respect is Lost and How to Rebuild It!

Respect is at the heart of a thriving workplace culture.

When it is present, collaboration flourishes, innovation thrives, and people feel valued.

Yet when respect is diminished … engagement, productivity, and trust quickly follow suit.

So why does respect break down in the workplace?

Here are the top five reasons … with real-world examples to illustrate each one … along with some tips to rebuild respect.

1. Lack of Psychological Safety

Psychological safety …the ability to speak up without fear of ridicule or retaliation, is essential for respectful workplaces.

When team members feel unsafe expressing their thoughts, they disengage, and respect diminishes.

Example - During a team meeting, Sarah suggests a process improvement, only to be met with an eye roll from her manager and a dismissive, “That won’t work.”

Over time, Sarah and her colleagues stop sharing ideas, feeling unheard and undervalued.

The result?

A stagnant, uninspired team and a workplace culture where innovation is stifled.

Tip to Rebuild Respect

Encourage open collaboration by responding to ideas with curiosity rather than dismissing them.

Leaders need to practise deep listening, acknowledge contributions, and create an environment where all voices are valued.

2. Inconsistent Leadership Behaviour

Leaders set the tone for workplace culture.

When they fail to model respect … whether through favouritism, breaking promises, or setting double standards, it breeds resentment and disillusionment among team members.

Example - Mark’s manager emphasises punctuality … but regularly arrives late to meetings, keeping the team waiting.

When a team member is late, they’re criticised.

This hypocrisy erodes respect, as team members perceive leadership as unfair and untrustworthy.

Tip to Rebuild Respect

Leaders need to practise what they preach. By holding themselves accountable to the same standards as their team, they build credibility and reinforce a culture of fairness.

3. Poor Communication and Lack of Deep Listening

Respect is built through effective communication and deep listening.

When team members feel ignored, misunderstood, or excluded, trust erodes, and workplace relationships suffer.

Example - Emma emails her direct manager about a conflict with a fellow team member.

Days pass with no response.

When she follows up, her manager dismisses her concerns with, “Just work it out.”

Feeling disregarded, Emma disengages from her work and loses respect for her leader.

?Tip to Rebuild Respect

Leaders and team members need to prioritise timely responses, acknowledge concerns, and engage in meaningful conversations.

Deep listening and validating team members’ experiences fosters a culture of mutual respect.

4. Failure to Address Toxic Behaviour

A single toxic team member can poison an entire workplace if bad behaviour goes unchecked.

Whether it’s gossip, bullying, or undermining fellow team members, tolerating toxicity is a sign that disrespect is acceptable.

Example - James frequently interrupts fellow team members and takes credit for others’ ideas.

HR and leadership are aware but do nothing because he “gets results.”

His fellow team members end up feeling frustrated and demoralised.

They stop collaborating with him and feel disrespected by the inaction of leadership.

Tip to Rebuild Respect

Address toxic behaviour promptly by setting clear expectations and enforcing workplace social norms.

A zero-tolerance approach to disrespect fosters a healthier, more productive work environment.

5. Lack of Recognition and Appreciation

Team members want to feel valued for the contribution they make.

When extra effort and hard work is ignored, while only mistakes are highlighted, motivation declines, and respect for leadership weakens.

Example - Maria consistently goes above and beyond in her role, yet her manager only provides feedback when there’s a problem.

After months of feeling unappreciated, Maria starts doing the bare minimum and quietly looks for a new job, taking her skills and experience elsewhere.

Tip to Rebuild Respect

Regularly acknowledge and celebrate achievements … big and small.

A simple “thank you” or public recognition can go a long way in fostering a culture of appreciation and mutual respect.

Rebuilding Respect in the Workplace

The good news?

While some of these examples may seem obvious and simple, they can have a far-reaching impact on building a respectful workplace culture.

The point is ...

Respect can be restored by fostering psychological safety, demonstrating consistency in leadership, improving communication, addressing toxic behaviours, and recognising contributions.

The bottom line is ...

Small, intentional changes can create a ripple effect that transforms workplace culture.

What steps will you take to build a more respectful workplace?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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For those of you who are new to my weekly newsletter 'Respectful Workplace Insights' it provides strategies for building trust, safety and a thriving inclusive, team performance culture.

Thanks for reading Edition 043.

See you next week!

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