Respect is fundamental to managerial success, but it’s not easy to achieve. In fact, in many instances, employees are more likely to approach with trepidation until you prove that you’re a good egg.
As a new manager in an existing business, especially, it can sometimes seem impossible to earn the respect of employees who, by the sheer fact of their being in the company longer, likely have a more comprehensive understanding of inner workings. This can lead to disruption, poor company culture, and increased employee turnover in the worst-case scenario.
No manager wants that, especially when they’re new to a role and need the guidance of company veterans, so garnering respect sooner rather than later is fundamental. The ways you achieve this will likely vary depending on your team. As such, we can’t offer you a guaranteed solution to respect. We can, however, tell you that you should avoid the following mistakes at any cost if you want to garner positive, and importantly respectful, employee relationships moving forward.
Mistake 1 - Falling into the fear trap
Like that frightening teacher at school that no one dared cross, many managers still assume that fear is the best path to respect. A new manager in an existing setup, especially, may feel the need to shake things up and show everyone who’s boss. But, this a very different setup to school. Unlike unruly teens, your employees are trying to do their best in careers that they’ve likely spent a long time building. They’re here because they want to be, so your job is all about ensuring that doesn’t change. Shouting or throwing your dummy out of the pram right away isn’t going to achieve that. Instead, remember that managerial respect is primarily based on critical qualities such as approachability, level-headedness, and mutual footing.
Mistake 2 - Boasting about your experience without putting it into action
Right now, these team members don’t know much about you, and you might feel the need to let them know how well qualified you are for the job or how many positions you’ve had in the past. We get it, but look – your position in this role is testament enough to the fact that you deserve to be there. Bragging about this is never going to get an already skeptical team onside. Instead, earning respect is about keeping quiet, and getting your head down to ensure that the Master’s you completed in how to become a construction manager or how to run an office speaks for itself. This more modest approach is still going to prove to your team what you can do, but without any annoying, and ultimately ineffectual boasting.
Mistake 3 - Acting like you know best
Along the same lines, you also want to avoid acting like you know best. Remember, you’re the new kid here. You can have all the qualifications and experience under the sun, but the simple fact is that these people know this job better than you do. Period. Instead of ignoring that fact, rubbing feathers the wrong way and, in all likelihood, making stupid mistakes as a result, acknowledge your knowledge gaps. Be humble and accept that this team can guide you. Ask questions, admit what you don’t know, and more importantly, show that you’re willing to learn even though you’re at the top of the food chain. It’s amazing how much this alone can be a fast ticket to respect that you’d simply never earn if you didn’t just take a step back and accept your position for what it is.
Mistake 4 - Failing to connect with every member of your team
As a manager in a new role, you likely have a lot on your plate – sorting out the old manager’s mess but also getting to grips with your daily tasks and clients. With all this being said, many new managers make one single fatal mistake – failing to connect one-on-one with each team member. In some cases, and especially in large companies, managers fall into this trap so severely that it can be months before they even speak to some employees. This is a significant omission that will leave respect very much off the table, at least for those you haven’t bothered with. Avoid this, by taking the time to schedule a brief chat with every member of your new team, enabling you to improve company motivation, get on top with who does what and why, and also prove to everyone why you’re a manager worth working under.