Respect consists of the ways people treat their
leaders and other group members. Core features of respect include social status
and likeability (See
Psychology of Respect).
Honesty
In a 2014 survey by Kouzes and Posner of
over 100,000 people, honesty was the highest quality (CEO).
Honest communication is often supported by facts that can be checked by others.
Honesty promotes trust and credibility. One major lapse in integrity can dash a
career. Apologies may help but for many, trust is gone forever.
Politicians often get little respect
because they fail to deliver on their promises. A CEO will be ousted when a
promised result doesn’t happen. But politicians seem to get away with failed
promises when they can blame the failure on a competitor, opposition party, or
foreign power.
Golden Rule
Leaders gain or lose respect depending on how
people perceive them as following the Golden Rule- Treat others as
you would like to be treated. Respect is a relational concept. Most people
respond with warmth to kindness, politeness, and fair treatment. And people
tend to respond in kind to disrespectful treatment. Politicians and corporate
leaders who deal in “dirty tricks” can expect retaliation.
Confidence
People respect leaders who appear
confident. Confidence in a leader is obviously important in times of crisis
such as war and disaster. Troops appear to have a knack of discovering poor
leadership. This loss of confidence can happen in politics, industry, and other
organizations, including churches. Of course, confidence must be supported by
results. Confident leaders who lead people in the wrong direction can expect to
lose respect.
Fair Treatment
Young children have a sense of fairness
when it comes to following the rules of a game. Cheaters are penalized. Some
cheaters are ostracized. Adults continue to live by a sense of fair play. Leaders
must be careful when promoting and awarding raises to members or employees. Some
people who have been treated unfairly can be motivated by revenge and wreak
havoc in a family, an organization, or a nation—especially when they have a
high level of respect in the eyes of a sizeable minority.
Commitment
We respect leaders and group members who
are committed to the goals of a group, company, organization, or nation. People
who do not show commitment are treated with low respect. Commitment involves
acting in ways that advance one’s group. Some commitments are symbolic like
standing to sing a national anthem or showing you like a friend’s social media
post.
Other commitments are more tangible like volunteering
to decorate for an organization’s social event or working on a project that
improves the social standing of a business. A high degree of respect is show by
the commitment to serve in a nation’s military.
Caring
People respect leaders who demonstrate
social responsibility. A fascinating survey of MBA students by Montgomery and
Ramus found that 90% cared more about working for a company that demonstrated
social responsibility than about financial benefits (2003). Of
course, there’s nothing like participating in an activity to show a level of sincerity
beyond a brief photo-op.
Consistent, Clear, Communication
My wife and I have been on several tours.
One particular leader stood out for confusing communication. You could hear a
constant buzzing within our group concerning where we are going, when we are
supposed to meet, and what we are supposed to bring with us. The leader won respect
for kindness, honesty, and caring, but was so easily distracted when giving
instructions that it was hard to know what to expect.
Consistent communication also links back to
honesty and integrity. Credible leaders do what they say they will do. Simple
explanations for failure may get a pass on occasions, but not on a regular
basis.
On-Time
In western cultures, respect for time is a
two-way street. We expect leaders and group members to be punctual. There is no
such thing as “fashionably late” when it comes to respect. Lateness represents
disrespect for the value of a person’s time and whatever they are communicating.
People can maintain respect following an occasional lateness when a socially
acceptable reason is provided as long as lateness is not habitual.
Connections
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