How respecting others will help win you friends at work

Everyone deserves respect, whether in the workplace or at home. Unfortunately, not everyone gives or receives it. This can be a particular issue at work, when often people are so busy that they tend to overlook other people's feelings in order to meet their deadlines. However, taking a little time to ensure that you treat other people with respect will stand you in good stead, both in your career and in your personal life. Here are some ways that respecting others will help win you friends at work.

If you respect other people, they will respect you

It is easy to be tempted to treat others as they treat you. Therefore, if someone you work with treats you coldly, you keep your distance and avoid talking to them if possible. Remember that there is probably nothing personal in their treatment of you and, while respecting their privacy, greet them with a smile and a few kind words. They will soon come to respect you as someone who is willing to reach out for no reason other than friendliness. Treat everyone in this way, while working hard at the same time, and you will soon be respected by everyone.

Long-term respect can forge lasting friendships

If you treat colleagues with respect and are consistent over a period of time, then they will come to see you as more than just a colleague. How far you want to take that is up to you - you may prefer to refrain from meeting them outside of work unless it is necessary for work, and you certainly don't want to become involved with them romantically. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that improving your relations will make going to work a much more pleasant process, and may win you lasting friendships that continue despite one or the other of you leaving.

Mutual respect increases morale and a sense of belonging

Few people work alone. Team-work is something that most of us have to take part in sometimes, yet can be very difficult if members of the team don't get along. Mutual respect should ensure that such problems are kept to a minimum. In time, this will increase morale and, most importantly, a sense of belonging. People who feel that they belong are more likely to work hard, get the job done and therefore be willing to celebrate together afterwards. When working as a team, there is no time for a lack of respect - it will only lead to bad feelings.

Treating everyone with respect will help the whole organisation run more smoothly

You should treat everyone with respect, not just your superiors or your immediate team. Most organisations have a hierarchy, and those at the bottom often feel that they are ignored or treated as if they are unimportant. A smile and a few kind words can go a long way to ensuring that this doesn't happen. That way, everyone will be willing to get the job done and will remember you for your efforts in trying to increase morale. They will also be much more inclined to approach you if there is a problem.

Mutual respect lessens gossip, back-stabbing and other bad feelings

Office politics can lead to a definite decrease in productivity. Some people are so concerned with spreading gossip and wasting work time by doing so. A work environment where people are respected means that they have little that is negative to gossip about, which in turn will lead to a much more productive workplace. Remember that most gossips do so because they are insecure - a little bit of respect and praise where it is needed can nip any serious problems in the bud, making coming to work a pleasant experience.

Treating your colleges with courtesy and respect will win you friends in the long-run. People will find you approachable and will know that you will always be prepared to listen to them. And ultimately, this will almost certainly do your career a great deal of good - good people skills is an important consideration in promotion after all.