Have you ever wondered what it is that caused you to want to follow a particular leader? Frankly, there are a lot of reasons why you might have but one that I’ve found to be a constant when it comes to people gaining influence over others is Respect. When someone is respected as a leader, they will have extraordinary influence over those whose respect they’ve earned. So, how do you gain the respect of others? Let’s look at a few reasons why leaders gain respect. As we go through them, honestly evaluate if you’re displaying any of these qualities.
You Respect Other People
If you’re relying on the power of your position to get people to do what you want, then you are not a leader. People will only be obedient out of fear of the consequences of your power in this case. That is not good leadership and it doesn’t gain a healthy following. When a leader is relying on respect and show respect to others, they will gain respect in return. This is a mark of good leadership and will lead to loyal and healthy following of people who will support the vision of your leadership.
You Add Value to Other People
When you’re committed to adding value to other people, that earns a huge amount of respect. The person who has concern for others and is willing to take the time to help them grow and develop as a person is an individual who deserves respect. This person doesn’t need to use a position or power to get things done, they simply accomplish their goals by taking people with along for the ride and making them better. In turn those individuals will actually help the leader to accomplish what they set out to do.
You Display Courage
If you look at all of the great leaders or history, courage is a consistent shining start among all of them. A good leader will fight for what is right even in the face of potential failure or criticism. That is a quality that commands respect from others. Not everyone possess a high amount of courage, so when it is displayed for all to see, it will absolutely not go unnoticed.
Also, remember that people tend to follow those who are better leaders than they are. So if you have any question about whether or not you’re leading well, just take a look at the people that are looking up to you.
“One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you.” – Dennis A. Peer
