Jelena Dincic
Ever wonder what it is about some people that makes them worthy of the respect of everyone around them? Do they know something you don’t?
While there’s no magic formula for instant respect, there are certain small habits that can help you earn instant respect from others.
Read on to find out more!
1) Being respectful
Let me tell you something about respect – you have to give respect to earn it.
People who act like they’re better than everyone else and then think that everyone should look up to them and show them respect are delusional. In fact, they’ll inspire everything but respect.
Unfortunately, a lot of the time those people are powerful and intimidating so people may pretend to respect them, but there’s nothing genuine about that.
In short: If you want to be respected by others, start by respecting them first.
2) Being authentic
The next habit I have to mention is authenticity.
The world is so full of fake people that it’s really refreshing and even brave to see someone who doesn’t conform and can be their genuine self – irrespective of whether or not that makes them popular.
And the best part?
Authentic people stand up for what they believe in, even if that means getting a lot of pushback and negative reactions.
Think about it: How can you not respect someone like that?
3) Confidence
People who exude confidence are strong, sure of themselves, and unafraid.
They know who they are and what they want and they go after it!
So, if you want to earn people’s instant respect, you definitely need to work on your self-confidence.
4) Active listening
In my humble opinion, people who pretend to listen when someone is talking are arrogant and rude.
And guess what – they’re not showing respect to the person doing the talking!
If you want to earn someone’s instant respect, be sure to do them the courtesy of really listening to what they’re saying.
- Give them your full attention
- Maintain eye contact
- Ask questions and give feedback
Basically, behave in the same way you’d like someone to behave when you’re speaking.
How does that sound?
5) Being punctual
Now, you’ll probably notice that a lot of these habits I mention are about showing the other person that you value and respect them.
Well, the same goes for being on time.
Maybe it’s my Swiss side, but I always like to come a few minutes early when I have a meeting or appointment. My motto is “Better early than late”.
And when someone is late to meet me?
It makes me think they value their time more than mine or they think that I have nothing better to do than stand around for half an hour (sometimes more) while they mosey their way to our meeting.
The bottom line? Show respect for other people’s time by being punctual and they’ll respect you for it.
6) Honesty and integrity
The truth is that if you want to be respected, you need to earn that respect by being honest and having integrity.
That means keeping your word at all times, being transparent about your actions, admitting your mistakes, and taking responsibility for your actions.
The opposite means makes me think of someone sly who’s up to no good, like most politicians and people in power!
7) Empathy and understanding
Nobody can force you to have empathy and understanding, but they sure are respectful qualities to have, don’t you think?
Empathy is what makes us human.
Try to understand other people’s perspectives and validate their feelings. Put yourself in their shoes, it will help you treat them with kindness and compassion and will earn you their respect.
8) Demonstrating humility
Look, no matter how amazing you are at something or how accomplished, boasting about it won’t earn you the respect you seek.
You see, what most of us admire and respect in others is their humility. When someone boasts and shows off, it makes them look tacky and desperate – it basically diminishes their success.
It’s okay to acknowledge your strengths, but you should also be willing to admit your limitations and be open to learning from others.
In short: Avoid boasting.
9) Respecting boundaries
Boundaries are there to protect us. That’s why it’s super important to both recognize and respect other people’s personal boundaries.
What does that mean exactly?
- Don’t push someone to do something they’re not comfortable with.
- Don’t make them talk about something when they’re not ready.
- Don’t intrude on their personal space
- And finally, don’t pry into their private matters, they’re none of your business!
10) Being reliable
Hey, don’t underestimate the importance of being reliable.
When someone knows that they can count on you to follow through on your commitments and promises, it’s a pretty big deal. It means that they can trust you and that they won’t hesitate to come to you in their time of trouble.
Being reliable is definitely something that will make people respect you. The opposite is also true, if you’re unreliable, you’re likely to lose the respect of a lot of people.
11) Good communication skills
Here’s the thing, people with good communication skills are looked up to, respected, and even sought after in certain situations.
Good communication skills mean being able to express your thoughts and intentions clearly, staying calm and composed, and listening to the other side. What’s more, good communicators work hard not to interrupt or dominate the conversation.
It’s no surprise then that moderators, diplomats, and mediators all require good communication skills.
12) Showing appreciation and gratitude
Finally, a small habit that you can adopt that is sure to make people respect you is showing your appreciation and gratitude.
What I mean is that you shouldn’t take other people’s kindness and support for granted.
When someone does something nice for you, tell them “thank you” and mean it!
Recognizing and acknowledging their efforts will make them feel seen and appreciated and in return, it will make them respect you.
And there you have it, 12 small habits to adopt to gain the respect you long for.
And remember, just because these habits are small, it doesn’t mean they’re not powerful.
