Leadership isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s how we treat people when no one’s watching.
Respect isn’t just about titles.
It’s not just “yes, boss” or who gets copied in the email.
Real respect shows up in the small things.
In how we listen.
In how we respond.
In how we remember there’s a human being on the other side of every task, message, and meeting.
I’ve worked in many rooms as a team member, as a leader, as a trainer, as an entrepreneur.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
Respect isn’t what you say when you’re being watched.
It’s how you carry yourself when no one’s keeping score.
Respect looks like replying, even if it’s a simple “Noted, will revert.”
It looks like not assuming silence = agreement.
It looks like not interrupting someone mid-sentence just because you’re in a rush.
It looks like being mindful of tone
because the same sentence can sound completely different when sent in all caps, or with a full stop that feels like a door slamming.
In leadership, respect looks like boundaries that go both ways.
Not just expecting others to be “professional”,
but giving them space to be human too.
It’s not just saying “We’re a family here”,
then punishing someone for needing a break.
It’s showing people they matter not just for what they can produce,
but for who they are beyond the job.
In teams, respect means not overloading the reliable ones just because they never say no.
It means acknowledging invisible work emotional labour, mental juggling, care work even if it doesn’t show up in the yearly performance review.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as:
“Thanks for catching that.”
“I know you’ve been holding a lot lately.”
“Let me help with this.”
Respect is culture.
It’s not a policy , it’s a pattern.
It’s not written on walls ,it’s felt in the way we show up for each other.
Because people remember how you made them feel.
Long after they forget your organizational chart.
