📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

5 Ways to Get More Respect at Work Consider these tips if you want to be better respected at your job.

By Ken Sundheim

entrepreneur daily

This story originally appeared on Personal Branding Blog

"Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power." Clint Eastwood.

Seemingly this formula worked well for Clint Eastwood in his career and if you want to be better respected at your job, it can work for you too.

Take a moment to conjure up what work would be like if your colleagues, bosses, subordinates and clients treated you more respectfully. Do you envision more money? Do you envision more fulfilling relationships with these individuals?

1. Define your values.
People follow strength and competency. Think about what makes you a better, stronger person. Write down those aspects you would like to move towards and a few things you would like to move away from. Simply listing these items can provide tremendous momentum toward or away from each value.

2. Discover your passion.
It helps a great deal to get where you want to be if the you have passion for the actual journey it takes to reach your end goal. Passionate employees tend to deepen their involvement around the office and, thus gain a significant amount of respect and friendship from others.

Related: Respect, Power, Family Pride: How Do You Define Success?

3. Know your purpose.
Corporate America is a tough place. It will lead you through twists, turns and disappointments. If your purpose is, say, to service your clients better than any other firm, then keep your eye on the ball. The resiliency and positive attitude will quickly be realized by those around you.

4. Envision what the future is going to be like.
Start to take some time and envision what it is going to be like when you do hit the pinnacle of getting more respect, friendship and success around the office. Practice makes perfect. To best achieve this, take a few deep breaths, get the negative thoughts out of your mind and begin to make it a mental reality.

5. Stop monologuing and start taking interest.
You ever notice that when you look at a picture with multiple people in it, you always look at yourself first? Human beings (inside the office, outside the office – wherever) are highly self-involved. They are flattered and respond better to you as a leader and an individual when you stop focusing on yourself and begin to take a genuine interest in them.

Taking these steps isn't easy, but think of it as training yourself for a better life. There is a pertinent story I read a few weeks ago about a Navy Seal who, when he jumped out of an airplane, found that his parachute wouldn't open.

He described what saved him and eventually got it opened was his extensive training, which allowed him to remain focused. It won't happen tomorrow or a week from now and maybe not even in a month, but with extensive training on yourself and your interaction with others, you will become better respected both professionally and personally.

Related: How to Earn Your Employees' Respect

Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement Sales and Marketing Recruiters, a sales and marketing recruiting firm specializing in staffing business development and marketing professionals around the U.S. Ken has been published in Forbes, Chicago Tribune, AOL, Business Insider, Ere.net, Recruiter.com, Huffington Post and many others. He has also appeared on MTV, Fox Business News and spoken at some of the country's leading business schools on HR, job search and recruitment.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

Most People Have No Business Starting a Business. Here's What to Consider Before You Become an Entrepreneur

You need to find the right business opportunity at the right time and take the right steps to beat the odds.

Leadership

AI vs. Humanity — Why Humans Will Always Win in Content Creation

With the proliferation and integration of AI across organizations and business units, PR and marketing professionals may be tempted to lean into this new technology more than recommended.

Growing a Business

Who You Hire Matters — Here's How to Form a Team That's Built to Last

Among the many challenges related to managing a small business, hiring a quality team of employees is one of the most important. Check out this list of tips and best practices to find the best people for your business.

Leadership

This Leadership Technique is the Secret to Optimal Team Performance

Through my experience in business, I've found one particular leadership technique that works better than others.

Management

7 Ways You Can Use AI to 10x Your Leadership Skills

While technology can boost individual efficiency and effectiveness, it's essential to balance their use with human intuition and creativity to avoid losing personal connection and to optimize workplace satisfaction.

Business News

Passengers Are Now Entitled to a Full Cash Refund for Canceled Flights, 'Significant' Delays

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced new rules for commercial passengers on Wednesday.