Fearless Leaders Are Respectful.

Fearless Leadership: Pillar Two - Respectful

The Five Pillars of Fearless Leadership are BRAVE: B for Bold; R for Respectful; A for Adventurous; V for Valiant; and E for Empathetic.

Today we are focusing on RESPECTFUL.

This is a hot button for many of us because sometimes it can seem the higher a person gets on the corporate ladder, the less respectful they are of others. How many times have you seen a leader dress down a team member publicly just to make themselves feel more important? Too many times! The power some leaders have accumulated becomes intoxicating and they forget that without the loyalty of their team, their position is on shaky ground. Don’t they teach this in business school?

Respectful leaders don’t play the “boss card”, so they never think they can get away with disrespectful behavior. They treat people graciously, even when they find themselves in difficult and stressful situations, which is an excuse I have heard many times. Respectful leaders never put anyone down or make them feel insignificant. They respect the value of other human being’s dignity and are thoughtful in their interactions. They understand collaboration, trust and open communication begin with treating others with basic human kindness.

This behavior does not translate into being a doormat, and it is not wimpy! I have worked in too many high-pressure, revenue generating departments to forget the fact that we are expected to deliver results. But when leaders focus on the humanity of their team first, and their status as “employee” second, the culture shifts, trust is developed and the team becomes super loyal. They will walk over coals for you, and while I don’t mean this literally, I have had many of my team members perform miraculously when I thought we had no steam left in the engine and they could barely keep their eyes open! This will happen to you if you never forget the importance of respect and humanity.

So next time a situation calls for a respectful response, try out that muscle and practice. You’ll be amazed how great it feels, and the positive response you will get from your team.

Sandy’s RESPECTFUL leadership tips:

·       Always consider: “How would I like someone to speak to me?” and “How would I like to be treated in this situation?”

·       Remember every team member is a human being first, employee second. It is lazy and inconsiderate to ignore the personal lives of your team members.

·       When coaching for poor performance or releasing someone, never let them leave your office feeling badly about themselves. No matter what they have or have not done, it is not your job to strip them of their humanity.

·       Never gossip, and when others do, nip it quickly. Gossip is the engine for a disrespectful environment.

·       Communicate! Tell people why something is happening, and elicit their input.

So, get out there and do it! Let me know how it is going and how it feels to practice the RESPECT muscle.

Sandy Heydt is former c-suite marketing executive with a background as a counseling psychologist. She is an organizational start-up and turnaround specialist, working with business owners and investors worldwide, including human space flight, flying car companies, and luxury hotels. Skilled at maximizing human potential, she is a leadership coach and speaker who focuses on leading with humanity. You can reach her at sandy@heydt.co.