News

Why Respect Is Key To Employee Engagement

Why Respect Is Key To Employee Engagement
by Victor Lipman

Respect is one of those subtle lubricants that keep the engine of management running smoothly. But when, like oil, it gets low, parts start grinding.

I was reminded of this through a series of conversations about a change in management an old friend of mine recently experienced. He was a longtime employee – the industry doesn’t matter, the same dynamics can apply anywhere – who knew his job well and had long been regarded as a valued member of the team. But the company was in transition and a new management team had been installed. His new manager was about half his age and viewed him as, well, somewhat “dinosaurish.”

While my friend had been doing his job successfully for years, his new manager didn’t place much stock in his history and wasn’t much interested in his experience. As is often the case, new managers often see themselves as change agents – whether or not change is in all cases necessary. At first an uneasy manager-employee truce prevailed, but the bottom line was a long-valued employee no longer felt respected. The lack of respect gnawed at him. “I get no respect, so I give no extra effort” was what it boiled down to. The end-result? He’s no longer committed to the organization and has begun to look elsewhere.

Read full article on Forbes.