7 Ways To Earn Respect and Create Compelling Relationships for Life

“Treat people the way you want to be treated. Talk to people the way you want to be talked to. Respect is earned, not given.” Hussein Nishah

Have you ever realized how respect helps in building a better quality relationships and how crucial is for success? Do you struggle to earn respect from others which lower your self-esteem? If yes, you are not the only one.

Each of us deserves respect in life. Of course, it takes time to prove yourself, but with a few simple steps, you will gain trust of others in no time. Respect makes everything work and once you show people that they are valuable to you, more than likely you get the same treatment back.

After you build your reputation, and people know you are serious, the doors in your life will begin to open. You will have more opportunities and choices. But before you get too excited, let’s take a look at 7 proven ways how you can earn respect and create most valuable relationships in personal as well as professional life.

7 Ways  To Earn Respect and Create Compelling Relationships for Life

1. Respect yourself

I definitely want to start with this one, because before you expect others to respect you, self-respect must come first. I know it may sound corny, but many of us struggle with healthy self-esteem. We may seem confident on the outside, but inside we are feeling uncertain and unbalanced.

I don’t know what you have gone through and why you may doubt yourself, but before you create compelling relationships in your life, you must be happy with who you are and loved yourself beyond. I am not talking about egotism; I mean healthy self-respect which you owe to yourself. This step is a starting point before anything else. If you don’t respect yourself first, who will?

2. Have an opinion and stand your ground

In the past, I thought that by pleasing everyone and always agreeing, I will be respected. After a certain time, I have found out that this is not the way to go. As people, we are unique in our own way what means that opinions on things often differ. Not everyone may like yours, but you are an intelligent human being and in order to earn respect, express what you feel and stand your ground. When people see that you also think instead of only listening and agreeing, they’ll look at you differently.

Just to make one thing clear. I am not saying you always have to say what is on your mind. Sometimes it is better to stay quiet and take into consideration the timing. But when it comes to a meaningful conversation or making a serious decision, don’t try to please people. Say what you think and explain it. I know that sometimes it takes a little courage, especially in the professional environment, but you must understand one thing, respect is earned through your action.

3. Be loyal to others

If you want to create and maintain better quality relationships and earn respect, you must prove others that they can count on you, especially when they are not around. Loyalty, as respect itself, are not build overnight. It takes a time to spread a word around, so people know you as “Mr. Right Guy.” And this may happen if you build it step by step through your actions.

I have a little warning for you. Not everyone around you will share the same life philosophy. People will stab a knife in your back and show you the dark side of who they are. Don’t ever get on their level. Even if it hurts, and you want to hurt them back, remain calm and remember that karma always works. If you drop to their level, it only proves your weakness. You will lose respect for yourself and from others as well.

4. Offer your honesty

The truth may hurt, but lies hurt more. One of the guaranteed ways how to earn respect from people and sleep well at night is being honest. Whether we talk about your personal relationships, business relationships or your working environment.

Honesty builds your reputation as a strong-minded individual and creates respect. Do you wonder why? Because not everyone has balls to tell the truth. It takes some courage to do that. Often you may put yourself in an awkward or an uncomfortable situation but trust me; most of the people value this. Just a little reminder before we move on. Anytime you want to be honest with someone, consider their feelings. You don’t want to hurt them.

5. Help as much as you can

Think about a moment from the past when you were dealing with difficulties. Maybe you were struggling with money or felt depressed; perhaps you failed, and it walloped you. And then, someone came. This person helped you, and it meant the world to you. It felt like they took a giant rock of your chest and you were able to breathe again. How did it feel? Do you remember how grateful and relieved you were? How did you feel about that person?

By helping others, most of the relationships you’ll create will be significant. People will thank you and remember you as someone who maybe changed their life forever.  Many of them will wait for the opportunity to revenge upon you. They’ll show respect in their action and loyalty towards you. What more valuable can you get?

6. Keep your promises

Don’t promise things you aren’t able to deliver. If you want to build your profile of a serious and loyal person, you either promise what you know you can make happen, or don’t promise at all. It is not your responsibility to satisfy everyone’s needs. Learn how to say no.

Perhaps you don’t like disappointing people, but keeping false promises will bring them only greater disappointment. Their trust towards you will start to fade. The important thing is to become the person of your word. Person who can be trusted.

7. Admit your mistakes

I think that this is one of the hardest thing anyone of us must do once in a while. No one likes to be wrong but you and I aren’t perfect either. You are stronger and braver if you have the courage to admit once you are wrong and take responsibility for your actions. That’s the real strength and with a strength, comes respect. By mastering this skill, you will create better quality relationships and accomplish more than you can imagine.

Conclusion

Respect is hard to gain but very easy to lose. Once you build a strong foundation for creating compelling relationships, it will benefit you for the rest of your life. Not that you have to target people to get something, it will come naturally. As I said, karma always works and what you put out will always come back.

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