Jul 5, 2018, 2:58 PM
(from Harvard Business Review) Research indicates that employees value two distinct types of respect, which when balanced lead to optimal results in the workplace.
Owed respect is accorded equally to all members of a work group or an organization; it meets the universal need to feel included. It’s signaled by civility and an atmosphere suggesting that every member of the group is inherently valuable.
Earned respect recognizes individual employees who display valued qualities or behaviors. It distinguishes employees who have exceeded expectations and, particularly in knowledge work settings, affirms that each employee has unique strengths and talents.
Too much owed respect and too little earned respect can result in employees who aren't motivated to succeed because they don't feel recognized for their hard work. To much earned respect and too little owed respect can result in a hyper competitive work environment where colleagues work against rather than with each other.
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