How To Earn Respect
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, respect. A lot of people want it but some people don’t realize that you have to earn it. Whether you’re at home, school, work, or just outside, you would like to be respected, right? It doesn’t hurt to have too much respect. So, to begin, start focusing on other and how you are treating them. Think about the people you respect, what kind of characteristics do they have? If you want to be like them, then you need to start thinking and acting like them. To help you get started, here are 15 ways on how to earn respect from people.
1. Keep promises
Have you ever heard of the saying “a promise is a debt?” Therefore, not keeping a promise you made to another person means you owe them until you fulfill it. Do not be the kind of a person who makes promises just for the sake of it. This will put you in bad terms with other people when the time comes and you are not able to keep your word or commitment. On the other hand, when you follow through on your promises people will respect you because you are someone who stands by commitments. The secret here is never make a promise you can’t keep.
2. Listen to others
Sometimes it is best not to talk over the person. Stop for a minute and let them say what they have to say first. Actively listen to their concern and try to understand them. If needed, ask questions so they can tell you more about the problem. This will make them feel like you are genuinely interested in what they have to say. Being able to listen to others will make them feel important thus earning you some respect. You’ll get extra points if you can empathize with them as well.
3. Give respect to earn respect
When you want to gain the respect of others, you have to in turn treat them with respect. On the other hand, a disrespectful and arrogant attitude will not get you anywhere. As the saying goes, “do to others what you would want them to do to you.” When others are disrespectful to you, don’t be aggressive. Instead, keep your respect safe and address the issue in a calm, composed and assertive manner.
4. Don’t overdo apologies
The best way to earn the respect from others is by not portraying yourself as being “soft”. Constantly saying sorry when clearly there is nothing wrong shows submissiveness and lack of confidence. Well, not a lot of people like to pay attention to someone who is like that especially in a work environment. Apologize when it’s necessary, that is, if a mistake was made or if you wrong someone. However, don’t go about saying sorry for simple things such as giving out your opinion since everyone is entitled to one. People will like you for being you and for standing up for yourself.
5. Control your emotions
People will not like you if your emotions, especially negative ones, easily take control over you. Avoid being the person who spontaneously reacts to every situation without thinking or evaluating it first. No matter how intense and frustrating a problem is, a respectable person always keeps their cool. When you disagree with someone, do not raise your voice at them. Instead, respond in a calm and steady manner rather than turning the whole thing into a shouting match. This will help you earn the respect of other people.
6. Admit whenever you are wrong
There are some people who find it hard to admit their mistakes and correct them. Even when it’s clear that they have made a mistake, they still want to justify it. These are the people who are least liked and respected in society. You will find others respecting you when you take responsibility of your actions. In addition, it’s not just all about accepting that you are wrong but also doing it in a humble and polite manner.
7. Don’t be too nice
Being nice to other is totally a good thing. However, there is a very distinct boundary between kindness and simply doing things for others so that they like you. You will neither get them to respect you nor really like you by being extremely nice. But do be friendly and firm with people. If there is something you are not comfortable with or don’t want to do, then do not do it just to make another person happy. This is the first step of establishing respect and genuine relationships with others.
8. Practice self-respect
There is no better way of getting other people to respect you than first having some respect for yourself. Appreciate yourself more and in turn people will appreciate you. The truth of the matter here is, what you give is definitely what you get. If you do not love and constantly demean yourself, nobody will respect you. In addition, be confident with everything in you whether it’s your skin or appearance. Jump at every opportunity that is meant to improve you. This will put you on the path of self-respect and ultimately help you gain respect as a result.
Check out: How to love yourself and be confident
9. Practice humility
Being humble may seem like a small thing, but it actually goes a long way when it comes to earning respect. Humility is all about giving others a chance and respecting their opinions. It’s also about your attitude and how you carry yourself in public and day to day life. You may not always be right, so be ready to accept this and make room for improvements. Also, show humility by being open to learn from others as they could have something different and unique to offer.
10. Be open-minded
Open-mindedness simply means being able to understand and accepting other’s opinions, ideas, lifestyles or attitude even if all these are opposites of yours. Your beliefs or opinions may not be the same as others but accepting how things work for others will earn you their respect. If you respect other people’s ideas, they will in turn respect yours. Being open minded will help you get along well with people and even make them like you as a person.
11. Solve problems
If you seek to earn respect from others, then be a problem solver. This way, people will look up to you and potentially seek your help. A respectable person can take immediate action when it comes to dealing with problems. They can keep their composure when addressing the problem, even if someone talks to them in a rude and annoying manner. So, avoid any confrontation that will reduce the respect others have for you. Be the person that people can look up to.
12. Go above and beyond
When you are at work, you can choose to do the bare minimum to get a task done or knock the objective out of the ball park and get an outstanding review. If you put in more time and effort to do something, people around you will see it. Eventually you’ll stand out and people around you will respect you more. People in general like others who are motivated and dislike those who are lazy and rarely get stuff done.
13. Avoid gossiping about others
Everyone has their good and bad side, including you. There is no need to go around gossiping about someone else just because you don’t like them. The golden rule here is, respectable people don’t gossip about others. They are courteous and respectful to everyone. Besides, ask yourself, what kind of reputation will you earn talking behind people’s back. Remember nobody like negative rumors being spread around about them so be wise about what you say.
Check out: 10 signs you’re becoming toxic
14. Be proactive
People will respect you more if you are a go-getter. Be unique by being the first one to get things done instead of waiting for others. Come up with ideas and solutions on dealing with issues and problems and see how much respect this will earn you. However, be careful in the way you do things and avoid acting like you’re smarter than others. Being proactive comes down to using the skills and knowledge you have that benefits the people around you. Remember that it’s not about showing off as this will not make others respect you more.
15. Standing up for someone else
Minding your own business is core when it comes to avoiding social problems and disagreements. However, there is nothing wrong with stepping in for someone else when you feel they are being harassed or mistreated. Most people will stand up for themselves and not poke their noses in the business of others. But being there for others can actually gain you respect not only from that specific person but also from those around you. This does not mean you butt in every situation that comes up, evaluate and decide wisely when you feel like it’s appropriate to get involve.
Overall, pay close attention to your actions. By following these simple tips and practicing them religiously, you’ll be on your way to earn the respect of others. With that in mind, I hope you can inspire, change, and grow professionally and personally in the future.