Whether you are a new employee just entering the workforce, or a savvy veteran with years of experience. Earning the respect of your peers and upper-management should be a goal everyone strives for. How to earn respect around the office can be a tough task to grasp though.

Someone who attains the respect from management can expect these benefits:

  1. Management will be more enticed to consider your ideas
  2. Management will consider you more often for special projects
  3. Mangement decides who gets promotions and raises

Follow these seven tips to earn the respect you deserve and more opportunities will follow.

7 effective tips to earn respect around the office

1. Work your job and excel

This is the easiest way to start out on your path for respect. If you are pushing out quality work on time, word will get out that you are good at what you do. By demonstrating your grit and excellence to your peers and upper-management, you will be seen as someone who can take on more advanced tasks and projects.

2. Focus on listening more, rather than talking more

There’s this common misconception that the more someone is speaking, the more respect they command. According to The Balance, “If you feel as if you always need to talk, you’re not likely the most respected person in the room.” This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share your thoughts and ideas, but it does mean you should pick your battles.

Pay attention to what others are saying. Everyone was hired for a specific reason in the grand scheme of the organization. Others will be experts among subjects you aren’t as familiar with. If you recognize that, you can form your thoughts and expertise to add to a more meaningful conversation. Thus, earning respect over time as you continue to add substance to every meeting.

Related: 5 Ways to Manage Working for a Younger Boss

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Some people may think asking for help makes you look weak.

Wrong!

Asking for help from others will benefit you in these ways:

  • It shows the person you’re asking that you respect their opinion
  • This also shows you’re productive enough to know that when self-research isn’t enough, it’s time to move on and stop wasting time
  • It shows that you care about your job and professional growth when you ask someone for their help or opinion

4. Assume everyone is “on it”

There are times when you have to wait on others for their assignments, feedback and other work-related tasks before you can move forward. This can create lull-periods where it might make you think that the others you’re working with are “lazy.”

Like you, everyone has different processes and steps they need to go through for each assignment or task. We’ve all run across lazy people on the job. However, patience is key. Assume the best and that you’ll get what you need at the time they say they will get it to you. Don’t be afraid to send reminders or check up if your deadlines are getting close though.

5. Be O.K. with criticism and the learning possibilities

Not everyone is correct 100% of the time. There will be times when your work or ideas may be questioned and that’s ok. How you respond to criticisms is what matters most in your quest to earn respect around the office.

So your boss doesn’t like the direction of the project you’re leading?

Who cares!

With respect, ask them why they are not a fan of your project and carefully think about what they have to say. From there, you can be creative and take their thoughts to blend with your original idea to create something everyone can be proud of. Over time, as you thoughtfully apply these criticisms to your everyday tasks, you will be seen as someone who is can adapt to change and is a team player.

6. Admit your mistakes and apologize

Sometimes mistakes happen. Know they are O.K. and you can move on. While admitting you were wrong can be personally tough, it actually shows you have enough integrity to know when to admit it. The next step is fixing it after you acknowledge your mistake. According to The Balance, you should remember this statement:

I’m sorry. What can I do to fix it?”

This apology provides substance and shows you want to do everything in your power to make things right. By following through on fixing your mistakes, you will earn respect.

7. Stand up for yourself

Standing up for yourself is critical if you want to earn respect from your coworkers and upper-management. We’re not talking about constructive criticism here because that is important to take in stride for professional growth. However, if someone brings in your personal appearance, gender, race, religious views or more into the conversation for no apparent reason. Feel free to call them out.

I apologize, but what do my beliefs have to do with this particular assignment at hand?”

By standing up for yourself, others will feel less inclined to attack you on irrelevant subjects not related to the job. With that said, don’t get upset over every small comment made. You may be seen as the office “wimp” if you are always getting offended by everything. It’s O.K. to let things go every now and then.

Now that you know the different ways to earn respect around the office, you can use these tips to build the momentum necessary to attain it. If you enjoyed this article, check out The 7 Most Outlandish Excuses for Being Late to Work You’ll Read. If you need help optimizing your LinkedIn account for maximum exposure, click here.