If you want to be respected in business, then be respectable.
A lot of people think that it is a position, or wealth or societal status that garners respect. Even fools can have high ranking jobs or be born into money. So that’s not it.
True respect in leadership is earned by your character, which is something that cannot be bought, applied, born into or demanded.
To earn respect, you must:
- Respect others
- Be honest
- Not lose your temper when things don’t go your way
- Be tenacious
- Admit when you are wrong and be sorry when you should be sorry
- Not be lazy
- Be a giver
- Be a good role model
- Be loyal
- Follow through with your promises
- Be disciplined
- Have a good work ethic
- Be trustworthy and a good friend/confidant
- Be proud of who you are, but not a brag
- Make yourself heard and stand up for what you believe in
- Lead by example
- Focus on problem solving vs. blaming
- Have your own house in order
- Present yourself well – voice, dress and presence
Your fortitude must be soul deep. They may not all like you, but dang it, they will respect you.
If you find yourself feeling like you aren’t respected, take a step backward and look at yourself.
Make sure that your actions match up with your expectations. Being a leader is a noble task.
Paul the Apostle, says it best in 1 Timothy 3 NIV:
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceitedand fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Thank you so much for reading today. I hope that I made you smile and think a little bit. To reach me, visit SALending.com