First, let's explore this idea from a company's perspective. You have just hired a new employee and most new employees have some sort of 90-day probationary period where they are watched carefully for progress and how well they integrate. I believe companies have an equally important obligation to prove to new employees why they made a good choice to join the organization. Give your new employees words of encouragement, bigger responsibilities, invite them to team and client meetings, and basically show them all kinds of respect. This will endear you to them and probably motivate them to work at a higher level of efficiency and productivity.
Now think of in from the employee's perspective. Why would it be important to give all kinds of respect to your hiring manager and/or boss? This is not just your run-of-the-mill butt kissing that I am suggesting, but rather giving genuine respect for the position that is held by this individual. Try to find out what has made your boss successful in the organization and try to emulate that yourself. If it worked for them, chances are it could work for you as well.
Lastly, this can apply to co-workers. And it applies to both sides of the equation that I outlined above. Companies should encourage their employees to welcome new employees with open arms and show them all kinds of reasons why the company is great to work for. Be intentional about it. New employees in turn should go out of their way to get to know other employees, both those that they directly work with and those they indirectly interact with. The more you give, the more I can guarantee you will get back.
One quick personal example from long ago in my career. When I started with Principal Financial Group I worked in a very large office building that had a lot of security. You had to flash your employee badge every time you entered the building. And if you forgot your badge, you had to stop at the reception desk, provide another form of identification, and receive a temporary badge. I made it a point to get to know the security guards on a first-name basis. One of them pulled me aside after about six weeks and told me I was the only person that had bothered to ask her name in her time as a security guard. She in turn knew my first name and each morning she was making eye contact with me and telling me to have a good day. Everyone else she was only focused on their badge as I had received her respect by giving a little on my end.
Can you tell me about a time where giving respect gained respect from a colleague or boss?
No comments:
Post a Comment