Foolish leaders disrespect intentionally. But, for many, disrespect is accidental.

Disrespectful leaders demoralize the team.

You’re disrespectful when you:

1. Answer for others in meetings.
2. Help when help isn’t needed. Over-helpfulness suggests others aren’t capable.
3. Make choices without input from those impacted. Unilateral decisiveness feels like a putdown to those on the receiving end of your decisions.
4. Minimize successes and maximize failures, in the name of improvement.
5. Neglect common courtesies like good morning. The first thing to go when you feel time pressure is good manners. Disrespectful leaders talk at, speak down, and interrupt.
6. Assume negative intention.

People who feel disrespected:

1. Disconnect and withdrawal. Disrespect is so painful that pulling back is inevitable.
2. Distrust. They don’t trust you when you disrespect them.
3. Lose respect for you. Disrespect invites disrespect.
4. Slowdown in protest.
5. Sabotage the process or results.
6. Never give you their best.
7. Leave the team either literally or emotionally.

Thanks to…