A mistake I often see young leaders make is confusing position and influence. Just because you have a title or position, it does not mean you will have influence and respect from those on your team. Compliance is given. Respect must be earned.
So this begs the question – How does a young leader, especially on a team full of veterans, gain respect?
Recently, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King visited the Indianapolis Colts training camp in Anderson, IN. He discovered several things that rookie starting quarterback Andrew Luck had done to garner the respect of his teammates. As I listened to King’s comments, it became apparent that these practices would be successful in any business or walk of life. To hear King’s full report, click the video above.
The following are six practices all young leaders can learn from Andrew Luck about earning respect:
- Respect Others – King said, “As a rookie who knows his place.” Young leaders can quickly earn respect by being humble, not acting as if they “know-it-all”, and honoring those who have previously paved the way for their success.
- Help Others Become Successful – In addition to knowing his place, King added that team knows Luck is “a quarterback who can help them win.”
- Become An Expert At Your Craft – Luck’s teammates made note of him changing a play at the line of scrimmage. This is an indication of his preparation. He had studied the defense and placed in teammates in favorable positions.
- Produce Results – King said, “That was the right play to change it to because he was going to get in trouble with the defense.” To gain respect, young leaders must produce results and avoid unnecessary mistakes.
- Give Others Hope – To gain respect, young leaders must point to a brighter tomorrow. Veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne is the team’s unofficial spokesman. He said, “I can see him get there (becoming like the team’s predecessor Peyton Manning).”
- A Measurable Pathway To Success – Hope alone is not enough to gain respect. In addition to providing hope, young leaders must give their teams mile markers and a pathway to success that is measurable. King noted that, “By the end of this year, everyone in Indianapolis and around the league will see Andrew Luck is clearly going to be one of the great quarterbacks in this league for a long time.”
Respecting Others, Helping Others Become A Success, Becoming An Expert, Producing Results, and Giving Hope and A Measurable Pathway To Success. If you do these 6 things, you will gain the respect of those you lead. If not, not only will you not have your team’s respect, you will also be forfeiting your personal success as well.
Leaders, what are some additional practices you do to gain the respect of others?
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