EARNING THE RESPECT OF THE TEAM

Whether you’re a CEO, head of marketing or NFL quarterback… earning the respect of the team is no easy task. However, earning this respect is essential to not only your personal growth and success – but, more importantly, for the team as a whole.

Over the course of my career, I have lead many teams. Some I’ve ‘inherited’… and others I’ve built from the ground up. In both cases, I’ve learned the key ingredients for achieving high functioning teams is cultivating a culture of respect, brand values, teamwork and growth.

Earn the respect of the team and striving daily to build and improve a culture that gets everyone inspired and fully engaged in their work is essential. Here are few ideas on how I work to earn the respect of the team and make a positive impact when starting a new role.

TREAT PEOPLE LIKE PROFESSIONALS

It’s imperative that every member of the team knows you are there to help THEM succeed. That their success (and the success of the organization) comes before your own. This starts with listening and respecting the knowledge and experience of the group. You must make yourself available to spend intentional time both as a team and via one-on-one meetings. The goal is to better understand the unique challenges and frustrations, strengths and opportunities, and gain insight into what’s worked and what hasn’t. This establishes an on-going framework to give and receive feedback, build mutual respect, and provide a space to keep everyone accountable on a regular basis.

STAY POSITIVE AND GENUINE

Showing up every day with a positive and upbeat attitude makes all the difference. I’ve found that if you genuinely respect those around you, they in turn will respect and work passionately by your side. Regularly thinking of ways to put your team in the spotlight for well-executed work or innovative ideas is essential. Your goal should be to motivate and inspire team members to do a better job, not punish them for trying new things or making honest mistakes. I would encourage these ideas, knowing that if the team is collectively working to advance the business, things may take time to improve.

PRACTICE RADICAL HONESTY

Having trust in the new leader is the foundation for everything. It’s not easy or fast, but vital. It’s essential to work diligently to establish trust, by following through on my word and by admitting mistakes along the way. When it comes to providing feedback to the team, you need to give it honestly, sincerely, and often. You should also expect and encourage team members to do the same.

BE PATIENT

It takes time for any team to acclimate to a new leader. It will also take time for any new leader to learn the unique strengths and challenges of the existing team. Your approach to this situation should be to practice patience and firmly establish the mindset that you’re in this for the long haul.

ASK ADVICE FROM TRUSTED MENTORS

As a leader, you should know there will be limitations to your knowledge, expertise and experience. Because of this, it’s imperative that you’re not afraid to ask for help when needed. It’s likely you have already cultivated a strong network of successful business leaders who you trust and can call on when a challenge arise. Leaning into your network for support, advice or just to have a professional and experienced sounding board, can help elevate your skills as a leader.

IN SUMMARY…

To quickly gain the respect of the team, it’s critical that you put the success of the group (and the organization) ahead of your own. Remember to listen more than talk, and work daily to cultivate a culture of candid feedback.

When personnel changes need to be made, be prepared to make the necessary changes once the dynamics of the group are well understood, in order to ensure a cohesive, healthy and engaged team.

- Chris Accardo