The erosion of respect

(By Rick Lambert)

Respect is vital, if for nothing else, it protects you and your subordinates from bad attitudes, especially cynicism.  Cynicism is a direct sign that respect has been lost at some point.  In many cases, it may be a loss of respect for the company in general, but more often than not, it simply is the leader’s loss of respect. 

Cynicism cascades into negativity which eventually brings progress to a halt.  As enthusiasm is contagious in a positive sense, cynicism and negativity spread in a negative sense. 

Why cynicism (the evidence that respect has been lost) is a dangerous loss:

• You are no longer taken seriously. 
• You are no longer considered capable of handling the problems or challenges
• Cynicism implies that you can’t be completely trusted, and consequently must not be honest.
• Cynical attitudes stifle initiative.  It raises the simple question, “why should I put out?”
• New initiatives, even incentives are rarely strong enough to reverse the damaging effects of cynicism.  In fact, incentives are viewed as entitlements, not rewards for good effort.
• Cynicism takes a percentage of creativity, strength, commitment, and character away from the job, organization, the customer, and ultimately the future of the company. \

Learning and improving are the only ways to truly change cynicism into respect.  It’s a leadership tool underestimated in its strength and ability.  The question many are asking (though never verbalized); “Is there any leader out there who has the capacity and strength of character to truly sustain our belief in them?”