A little respect goes a long way
With a little effort, attention, and patience, you can create a work atmosphere where respect thrives. Below are a few tips on how you can help your workplace to function at its best.
Recognise colleagues’ achievements. Offer praise to colleagues for a job well done or a simple "thanks" if they pitched in to make your work a little easier. Show your appreciation and watch how a few simple words can improve relations and make someone's day.
Don't make negative comments or jokes about another person's work, skills, background, etc. Even if these comments are meant to be light-hearted, they can put another person down.
Accept and respect diverse lifestyles, religions and beliefs. Work to understand rather than exclude and keep an open mind. You may gain new insights and uncover common ground.
Be a good listener. Show you care and respect colleagues' ideas by giving them your full attention during conversations. Let them speak without interrupting and actively listen by:
- using eye contact without staring
- summarising what they say to confirm you understand
- asking clarifying questions
- offering open, courteous feedback
Include others. Make an effort to get feedback and ideas from colleagues. Doing so lets them know you value their input and boosts team spirit.
Remember, there are many right answers. Instead of pushing only your own ideas, stay open to other possibilities. The most successful teams are those that can pool the strengths of each person to achieve a final result that everyone is happy with.
Don't pry. Respect others' right to privacy. Pressing colleagues for updates on personal circumstances won't win you allies. Less forward questions, such as "How are you doing these days?" or "Is everything alright?" show you care without stepping into personal territory. It also gives the person an opportunity to tell you only as much as they feel comfortable sharing.
Don't be a space invader. Everyone has their own personal boundaries. Giving people space, knocking before entering an office, and not interrupting them when they are on the phone or in meetings are all ways of respecting these boundaries.
Admit when you're in the wrong. Taking responsibility for your actions shows others you are considerate and will earn you more admiration than scrambling to deflect blame. Sometimes a simple, "I'm sorry, I made a mistake,” is just the thing to smooth over a rough situation.
When disrespect turns into bullying
The cost of bullying is high; it can shatter confidence, inflict emotional stress, and trigger depression in its victims. People who participate in bullying behaviour may do this by excluding, intimidating, threatening, belittling, or verbally/physically abusing the people around them. If it seeps into the workplace, it can get in the way of employee concentration, productivity, and morale.
A few signs of bullying include:
- Verbal attacks (e.g., raised voices, shouting, pointing fingers, rude gestures)
- Becoming angry or aggressive when others don't meet their expectations
- Openly or indirectly threatening others
- Instigating gossip or rumours about colleagues
- Openly excluding people or giving them the "silent treatment"
- Intentionally embarrassing, demeaning, irritating, or intimidating people through words or gestures
- Physical attacks such as throwing items, kicking, punching, or shoving
How to handle workplace bullying
Handling workplace bullying is a daunting task for most people, especially if you are the target of aggression. You may feel intimidated and wish the problem would just "go away." But this rarely happens. As long as the behaviour is tolerated, it's probably not going to disappear any time soon. Below are a few suggestions that may help.
Raise the issue. If you feel like you can and it is safe to do so, calmly and directly tell the offender that their actions or words are hurtful and unacceptable. Your colleague may be surprised by your concerns because they unintentionally upset you.
Be clear. Explain that if the situation continues, you will escalate the issue in line with company policy. However, this warning is not necessary if you are not comfortable confronting the person.
Don't ignore it. Studies show that the mental and physical wellbeing of a person witnessing a colleague being bullied can also be negatively affected. Don't silently consent to bad behaviour: instead, approach the person being bullied and offer your support.
Keep yourself safe. Especially if the person is becoming aggressive, verbally or physically, you don’t have to engage with them. Stay as composed as possible and try to keep your voice relaxed and calm. Signal discreetly to someone (colleague, manager, customer) for help.
Know your workplace harassment policies and procedures. Today, many organisations have workplace policies to address inappropriate conduct. Become familiar with your company’s policies and procedures, and don’t be concerned about approaching your human resources (HR) department if you are not sure if a policy exists, or to discuss the situation and standard practices to deal with the situation you are facing.
Keep track of when incidents happen. This will help you keep events clearly organised should you decide to take further steps.
Fostering a climate of respect
By holding a mirror up to your own actions and remembering that there is always time to be polite and considerate—saying thanks, complimenting achievements, and dealing with people in an open, well-mannered way—you can help spread respect throughout your workplace.
