Signs that your subordinates do not respect you

As a manager, in order to motivate and truly lead your subordinates, you must have their respect, be it thanks to your innate authority, unique know-how or communication skills. But if you somehow damage the rapport between you and your subordinates, or you do not possess the necessary authority or corresponding hard skills, your subordinates might not take you seriously. This is a problem you need to start solving immediately, so as once again to become an effective leader. However, team members are unlikely to tell you directly they have lost their respect for you. So how can you recognise this without being told?

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Unprofessional behaviour and non-verbal signals

According to INC.com, when communicating with your employees, you should pay attention to their body language and the way they speak. If someone shows they have no respect for you, or if they talk back rudely or otherwise behave unprofessionally towards you (for example, smiling when you are giving them negative feedback), something is wrong.

Always challenging your decisions

Another typical sign is challenging your decisions. There is always room for short debates; if, however, some employee is in constant opposition and aggressively confrontational regarding your decisions, it might be because they do not respect you sufficiently.

Not confiding their problems to you

Any relationship based on trust and mutual respect manifests itself, among other things, in one person talking to the other about their problems or when something is not going right. Beware if your employees do not confide in you or discuss their problems with you.

Not happy when you praise them

People like it when others praise them. That is human nature. And they are at their happiest if the praise comes from someone they respect. If your praising someone or giving them positive feedback produces no obvious positive reaction, it is likely the recipient does not respect you and therefore does not appreciate your praise.

 

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Article source Inc.com - a U.S. magazine and web focused on starting businesses
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