If you want to be respected at work, say hello to these 10 new habits

Being liked in the workplace is different than being respected.

You could even say that if your workplace makes you choose between the two, that’s another conversation worth having.

But I digress!

In most cases, being respected at work is about respecting yourself so you can be mindful of how you spend your time and energy.

That way, you can show up as your most productive self without pulling your hair out! 

As well as allow yourself to feel proud of your achievements.

If you want to be respected at work, say hello to these 10 new habits.

1) Don’t become too emotionally invested

I am all for emotional availability and making long-lasting connections.

And if a connection naturally happens and builds overtime, by all means, cherish them!

But when it comes to the professional sphere, I find that prioritizing emotions can get in the way of making the necessary executive decisions.

For example, feeling like you owe a coworker a favor simply because you’ve formed some kind of emotional alliance with them.

Or always making decisions that make people feel better in the moment.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that decisions based on objective criteria will better maintain the equilibrium of the workplace in the long run.

To do so, start by being more clear and concise in your communication.

2) Be clear and concise in your communication

The key is to avoid ambiguity.

Sugarcoating and embellishing can be counterproductive if you’re trying to promote efficiency.

Whether it’s in written or verbal communication, the ability to convey information in a straightforward manner will avoid misunderstandings.

And trying to make sure everyone’s feelings are catered to can actually end up in an unhealthy work and life balance.

Along with avoiding ambiguity, my other tip is to not make assumptions and take things personally.

Because I don’t know who needs to hear this, but having a different level of emotional availability doesn’t make you a bad person.

It just means you care about your emotional health!

So be real about your limits from the get go. There’s no need to try to go above and beyond if it’s going to make you burn out.

3) Be honest about your availability

In other words, be reliable within your own boundaries.

I like to live by the statement, “under promise, over deliver.” 

And sure, this is about prioritizing your well-being over performance. But it’s also about knowing how you work.

For example, I am constantly learning about how life affects me and what helps me manage all these stresses of being alive.

So when something comes up, I’m able to gauge how it will impact me and can adjust my coworker’s expectations accordingly.

At the same time, life is full of twists and turns! So it’s also about showing myself and those around me grace.

Navigating these moments requires a lot more grace in the mix, and that’s what we’ll get into next.

4) Have tact in your constructive feedback

Remember – that’s another person at the end of your feedback.

I’ve had managers who set up whole meetings just to talk about a single mistake that I made. Some weren’t even mistakes, as much as they were me being sick.

They use the veil of “this doesn’t mean you did anything wrong, I just wanted to touch base about our expectations.” 

But it makes the other person feel micromanaged.

All I’m trying to say is that trying to control how someone functions in a way that makes them feel targeted isn’t going to improve the quality of your workplace.

Instead, just tell them right away on the spot and don’t make a big deal out of it. And if that’s not applicable, then consider if it’s even worth bringing up.

Of course, like anything, context matters. 

And if both parties are professional, the idea of making mistakes won’t feel like the end all be all.

5) Keep yourself accountable

Taking responsibility for your actions, decisions and outcomes showcases integrity.

And I find that humility and accountability go hand in hand.

Especially if you are in a managerial position, I’ve seen so many people let that “power” go to their heads.

Almost like they believe that they have to act a certain way that belittles others to maintain control. 

Which, if we know anything about power, comes as no surprise. So for me, there is just that much more respect for someone who doesn’t see themselves on a high horse.

By holding yourself accountable like any other, you are demonstrating to everyone you work with that you can be trusted to lead.

It starts with you embracing the ebbs and flows, and keeps its momentum with a nice dose of optimism.

6) Be flexible and open to change

I find that the main difference between work and real life is how much we expect things to go as planned.

And they usually do go as planned! At work, that is. 

In fact, it’s how we are able to observe the value of working as a team.

But it can also make us think rigidly in the long run – even outside of work without us fully realizing.

So a part of having a healthy “work-life balance” is about being mindful of the way we respond to change.

Realize that there is just as much value to change as there is to being consistent. 

And knowing when to embrace what, is how innovation can take place, how we can see each other’s strengths, and apply those accordingly.

7) Keep a positive attitude

You don’t need to be the office sunshine – just stop taking everything too seriously.

That’s why I love respect so much! It’s what draws the clear boundaries between professionalism and rigidity.

It’s how we can acknowledge the human aspect of the workplace. Because truth be told, when there are challenges afoot, bringing the mood up can be everything.

It can be the shift that brings about epiphanies! Or the laughter that can snap us out of limited and negative thinking.

Not to mention, keeping a positive attitude will keep general stress levels down. Which makes everyone more open to being creative and collaborative.

Taking initiative is a huge part of this because optimism is contagious.

So if you want to be respected, try respecting the energy of those around you by uplifting them.

8) Stay out of office drama

I know, it’s hard – especially if the workload is never-ending, or tedious beyond tedious.

But just like how being a positive person can improve overall job satisfaction, so can being mindful about the social hygiene of an environment.

Besides, aren’t we a little too old to be gossiping and lowkey bullying people into feeling self-conscious at their place of work?

Don’t we all have too many bills to make this harder than it has to be for anyone?

While it might be entertaining, I do feel that gossip can make people feel like they can’t trust those around them.

So avoiding it can help you build a reputation of trustworthiness and respect.

Especially because it’s also contagious, just one person not passing off something they heard can help maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

9) See yourself as a valuable part of the team

Confidence is truly everything, and recognizing your own value is a part of earning respect from others.

It is definitely an energy thing – where you can only attract something if you know how it feels on the inside.

But I also find that confident expression of your own skills and merits is a practical way to tell everyone, “hey, here’s what I can do.”

Along with what I said earlier about the importance of being concise, I think knowing my value directly influences the way I communicate.

So if that resonates with you, start noticing how your fear of being devalued is making you feel like you need to do things that only validate that belief.

Seriously, I know that it feels like you could be replaced in our economy and society, but that doesn’t mean you should act like it.

10) Practice building professional relationships

All the points above are tips on how you can build professional relationships.

And practice makes perfect! 

Seeing these as skills you can get better at will make it a lot less daunting as you empower yourself in your workplace.

So don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and go to networking events!

Engage in interesting conversations by asking about people’s strengths, interests, and professional goals. 

I used to view networking as a chore because I didn’t realize that I could be curious and be selective.

But once I saw my own value, I noticed all the ways I could better foster relationships that are rooted in trust, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Take care of yourself!

Incorporating these habits into your professional life will make this whole “working for a living” thing more manageable.

If you take away anything from this article, my advice would be to learn how to look at life from above and the long run.

Because respect is something you build over time. 

And it will require you to stick through the highs and the lows to accumulate experiences that broaden your perspective.

So much so that even your job – a conceptual entity – will respect you enough to not follow you home when you clock out.