Success in your professional career demands a lot more than you just being competent and smart. To be able to seen as a valuable employee, you need to be someone who commands respect at your workplace. You do not have to be the CEO of a company to be treated with respect. Believe it or not, even someone who has just started off in their career can be respected by peers and seniors alike. If you learn to earn respect early on in your career, chances are that you will climb the ladders of success pretty soon.
1. Do your Job in the Best Way You Can
Nothing earns the respect of colleagues more than a great quality of work. No matter how big or small your role is, give your best and ensure that the quality is top notch. As your colleagues and employers start seeing that you regularly deliver excellent work, you will start earning their respect.
2. Strike the Balance Between Nice and Honest
While it is not a bad thing to be nice at all, at your workplace, you might have to sometimes be honest about what you think, even if that makes you uncomfortable. Whether it is questioning your manager’s methods, or providing feedback on your colleagues presentation, you simply need to speak your mind sometimes. If you are in any managerial role, make sure you always criticise constructively. Developing such habits will make everyone you work with respect you more.
3. Be Patient; Even When Difficult
Patience is a virtue that will go a long way in earning the professional respect that you wish to command. If you are working in a high-pressure professional environment where there is usually a lot of provocation for you to lose your cool, be the change you want to see in others. Be patient and be calm and always treat your colleagues with respect.
4. Acknowledge Others Contribution and Establish Boundaries
At any given day, you might be working with at least 4 or 5 team members at your workplace. You will all have different areas of strength and weaknesses. Do not be too desperate to hog the limelight and emerge as the star of the project. Learn where your strengths lie and make sure you do your work best. Help others who you think needs your help and do not hesitate in seeking help wherever necessary. Being a team player is a quality that is highly respected in a professional environment.
5. Conflict is Natural- Deal with it Wisely
It is highly unnatural for your workplace to be hunky dory all the time. When there is a lot of work and different people applying different methods of achieving the same end-goal, conflict is bound to arise. This is where you can display excellent professionalism and be seen as a problem solver rather than a problem maker. There is no room for passive or active aggression at workplace. Be a professional who contributes to a healthier workplace and learns to deal with conflict with maturity.
6. Do not Indulge in Office Gossip
It is quite natural for you to make friends at workplace. In such cases, it might be difficult to completely separate your professional life from personal. Some of these people you might even confide in. However, you must never engage in office gossip of any kind. Resist the temptation of discussing other colleagues or sharing too much information. Distance yourself from people who like talking about others in negative light. You will go a long way in your professional life you manage to avoid this trap.
7. Be Organized and Process Oriented
Be organised at work and abide by all the rules and regulations of your company. If you are excellent at your job but regularly forget to comply by the systems in place, chances are that you might not seen as a great professional. Do not be all over the place when it comes to managing your time and schedule. You will only be treated with respect and looked up to professionally, if you are able to manage work in the best and most systematic way possible.
While the seven ways mentioned above can definitely help you earn respect and improve your professional prospects, do not forget to strive to achieve a work-life balance. You are only truly successful when you have done well at work and personal life alike.
