Those days of yore are gone.  Democratization means that people are no longer automatically respected simply because of their status.  Respect has to be earned – even by the people at the top of the hierarchy.  Your employees may outwardly act as if they respect you in order to keep their jobs, but that does not mean that they truly respect you unless you have given them a reason to.  And, if your employees don’t respect you, you are unlikely to have a happy business – let alone a successful business.

Magic Words

“What’s the magic word?” a parent asks their child.  “Please” or “Thank you” is ultimately the answer.  As we get older, we seem to forget about the magic in those words, but it really does exist.

Research continually shows that when employees feel respected and valued, they work harder and are more loyal.  Simply focus on 3 tiny habits!

1. Frequently use their name when speaking with them.  Using a person’s name reinforces that you see them as a person and not just a tool to get the job done, that you know who they are and that you value them as a human being.

2. Say, “please,” whenever you make a request of them.  When phrased as a request rather than a command, you are more likely to get a positive reaction even if it is a dreadful task because of the respect you are showing.
3. Say, “thank you,” when a task has been completed satisfactorily.  Positive feedback on a job well done reinforces the likelihood that good work will continue in order to get more positive feedback.

When implementing the Courtesy System, this base level of politeness should be used by all employees no matter their level on the hierarchy.  This is Performance Standard #1.  Once this becomes second nature to 80% of your employees, you’ll be ready to move on to Performance Standard #2.