If you want your employees to work together as a cohesive unit, you need to establish a corporate culture that emphasizes respect.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out what it means for your business.
According to a 2011 survey conducted by Weber Shandwick, a global public relations firm, 43 percent of Americans have experienced incivility in the workplace and 55 percent believe that it will only get worse in the coming years. Fortunately, there are several steps employers and managers can take to ensure their workplace is a respectful one.
How to Build a Culture of Respect in the Workplace
If you want your employees to work together as a cohesive unit, you need to establish a corporate culture that emphasizes respect.
“We should all consider each other as human beings, and we should respect each other.”
– Malala Yousafzai
Top Down Leadership
Respect comes from the top down. According to the aforementioned survey, 65 percent of Americans blame leadership for the decline in civility and respectful workplace behavior. Leaders who operate according to a “do as I say, not as I do” mantra are simply not ones that inspire their employees to do better – to be better. So, if you want to make your workplace one of respect, it is important to practice what you preach, as they say.
Put a Policy in Place
Expectations are not always reality.
If you expect a culture of respect, make sure your employees know exactly what you think that looks like. Educate them on what is and is not respectful– what is and is not acceptable behavior in the workplace. A clearly defined policy will help ensure your employees know exactly what you expect of them.
Reward Respectful Behavior
One surefire way to ensure respectful behavior is to reward such behavior. This will encourage your employees to mimic such behavior. According to Bob Nelson, author of “1001 Ways to Recognize Employees,” the top two drivers of employee performance are:
- “I am able to make a difference at work.”
- “I have been recognized recently for what I do.”
Teach It
Building a culture of respect begins when you teach it. Get out there and teach your employees how to interact – how to be respectful. One way to do this is via corporate team building: a series of fun, yet educational exercises designed to teach your employees how to respectfully work together.
Companies with engaged employees outperform those without by up to 202%, according to “18 Statistics About Company Culture You Can’t Afford To Ignore.”
Corporate Team Building with Terrapin Adventures
Conveniently located between Baltimore and Washington DC in beautiful Howard County, Maryland, Terrapin Adventures will create a custom team building program designed to meet your unique needs as an organization. Our programs (onsite or offsite, indoor or outdoor) knock down communication barriers and encourage your employees to work together in a respectful manner to solve a series of challenges.
Click Here to Schedule Your Team Building Event!
If you have any questions, please call Terrapin Adventures at 301.725.1313, or email us at info@terrapinadventures.com to learn more.