How to Earn the Respect of New Employees
Earning the respect of your employees is difficult, especially if they are new hires. New employees haven’t had enough time to get to know you fully and get comfortable in their new position. You might think that the first impression is all you need, and sometimes it is, but not always. First impressions are important, but every other follow-up interaction can also be just as important. The respect you need as a team leader or manager is earned. We’ve got some tips for you to help with that.
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Don’t be fake
The best way to start off on the right foot is to not be a fake. Many people try to put on an act and maintain it for a long time, but it ultimately hurts them in the long term. Maintaining a fake version of yourself or your management style is incredibly difficult and you will find yourself slipping up at the worst times. People can usually detect whether or not someone is being fake. Your new employees will appreciate your authenticity, but only if you’re actually authentic.
Be professional
Some managers are tempted to become buddies with their employees in an attempt to get on their good side. However, this isn’t a good idea. The respect from a friendship is different from the respect you need as a boss. A boss must be able to discipline on occasion, and friendships aren’t designed for discipline. Becoming buddies with your employees, especially new ones, will make it difficult or impossible to discipline them when they act up or make mistakes. Maintaining your professionalism means that discipline will be easier to execute.
Note: this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be kind, friendly, or understanding to your employees. Just make sure they clearly understand who is in charge.
Take responsibility for being wrong and making mistakes
Taking responsibility for being wrong and making mistakes is an important step towards personal growth and maturity. It is also a good way to get new employees to respect you. It shows that you, as a leader, are human, and it shows that you take your role as a boss and part of the company seriously. You aren’t just looking out for your own skin; your interests are with the company.
Help them out
Sometimes, new employees need some help or guidance, and there won’t always be somebody else there to help them. Jumping in to help new employee with their responsibilities temporarily will not only help them see how to improve, they can also see how their boss isn’t afraid to do what they need to in order to get things done.