Page 198 - Build a Culture of Employee Engagement with the Principles

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Consideration

or this company. As soon as the economy turns around and I can
find another job, I’m out of here.” As you can imagine, her attitude
played itself out in her performance and treatment of company
visitors.
Ironically, Carlos was fond of saying, “I don’t care if my employ-
ees like me, only that they respect me.” Respect earned out of fear
isn’t respect; it’s submission. Carlos doesn’t have followers; he has
people who show up to collect a paycheck. Leaders like Carlos
believe that if employees like their managers then they won’t
respect them. This simply isn’t true. What is true is that if you don’t
show respect to your employees, they aren’t going to respect you,
your organization, or your customers.

Fundamentals of Consideration

Consideration goes beyond simple politeness, which requires
only an application of learned behaviors in common situations,
such as holding a door open and saying “please,” “thank you,” and
“excuse me.” Consideration involves careful thought and delib-
eration. Opportunities to be considerate are greatly enhanced
when supervisors have an established relationship with their
employees. Employees who feel connected to their supervisors
will feel more comfortable sharing concerns and problems. The
more you learn about and take an interest in an employee’s life,
the more he or she will feel respected by you. Most important,
the more thoughtful and considerate you have been, the more
likely your employees will be to confide in you under times of