“People naturally follow LEADERS stronger than themselves.” – John Maxwell
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care … TCB!
Respect is a process. If a leader understands the process and develops it, they can become a great leader and accomplish incredible things. Without it, they may be good at influence, but never take their ideas and visions to any real significant level.
Let’s look at “respect” simply as an acronym. Using each letter in the word as a subject in itself.
Respect yourself and those you work with.
Respect from others begins and remains when the leader has respect for themselves. If a leader allows habits that do not show that they respect themselves, it will show up in the lack of respect others show, or don’t show, for them.
When a leader shows respect for others, it is easy for others to return the behavior.
- When people respect you as a person, they admire you
- When they respect you as a friend, they love you
- When they respect you as a leader, they follow you
Exceed the expectations of others.
This is how you can gain the respect of others immediately. Dive in. Do your job to the best of your ability every day. As a leader, you already know that you expect the same of others, so, first, create your own results around that task or behavior. Then, when you expect it of others, they know you can, and have, already done it…as an example.
Stand firm on your convictions
Conviction is a deep seated, value based quality that becomes part of a leader’s reason for making certain decisions. It isn’t something they always think about, but something that makes others think when they experience it. There is a warning about “standing on your convictions”…and that is, make sure you know what those convictions are, and know what price you are willing to pay to see them followed. If you have to go to war over them, is it worth winning, or should you change your convictions? If so, maybe it isn’t a real conviction. But if your convictions are clear, they are less likely to be challenged by those following you. And when they are, fight to win!
Possess uncommon security and maturity.
Security in ones’ self and maturity allows a great leader to give the glory of a benchmark reached, or a victory in battle, to those who also fought for it, even though you might have had the strategic responsibility to draw up the plan, and execute it in a timely fashion. If it had failed, you take all the responsibility, but when it succeeds you give away all the glory.
That takes a secure and mature leader.
Experience personal success.
A leader can only really help others get to a high level of success when they have experienced high levels of success themselves.
There is an innate feeling and knowledge about someone who has been to the top of whatever they are doing. They are the ones that really inspire others to reach for the impossible, because they know it is possible.
Contribute to the success of others.
A leader not only draws out the vision the people will follow, but gives them the tools, training, and support they need to carry it out and succeed. When the situation changes or modifies, the leader anticipates that and makes sure the team has what they need to transition. The greatest source for respect is a leader’s ability to add value to others. (see The Law of Addition)
Think ahead of others.
Finally, the leader that has no strategy or plan loses respect. Strategy and planning is what wins in the big picture. It is the ability to be out front, ahead of what others are thinking, because you have thought it out ahead of time. (The Law of Navigation)
Prepositioning is powerful! When leadership thinks about what is coming, and is accurate about it, and provided the insight, timing and trained leaders to accomplish the task…everyone respects the leader even more.
“Weak leaders believe that their position or title deserves respect. World class leaders know that they must earn it every day.” J.C. Maxwell.
H5H Action Step:
- Answer this question honestly: “Have I earned the respect I am getting or is it simply because of the position I hold?
You may be a leader because you were hired into a position or you may be a leader because you earned your way up the ladder by your performance. Either way, you had better pay attention to how your actions convey respect to those above and below you. Without respect, a leader is nothing. Remember LEADERSHIP is influence.
Possibly the most important aspect regarding respect once you attain it is how to hold onto it. It may take years to build up the respect level expected of great leaders but it can take only one short event to wash it all away. How are you at respecting those around you and how are you being respected?
Lead The Way!
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