Ep 20 - The Ultimate Guide to Earning Respect as a CEO

Do you ever wonder how you can truly earn respect as a leader of your business? In this episode, I'm diving head first into the secrets of commanding respect like a true CEO. The question is, can you say no with authority, maintain consistency, communicate with clarity, and stay objective. Let's amplify your leadership by sharing 10 key aspects to earning respect as a business owner. Let's do this. Are you a successful business owner who has a laundry list of ideas and struggles to achieve your big goals? Welcome to the CEO Amplify podcast. I'm your host, Donna Dube, and my goal is to empower you to drive meaningful change and amplify your profits without the overwhelm. Join us as we provide actionable solutions for visionary CEOs like yourself to up level your CEO skills, streamline operations, and master strategic prioritization. Learn how to scale your business to new heights, working smarter, not harder.

If you're ready to reclaim your time and accelerate your growth, let's dive in and start this exciting adventure together. Yourself. Remember, the only limit to your business growth is the one you set for yourself. Welcome back, CEOs. I hope you're having a great week. Today, I'm thrilled to be diving into a topic that's been on my mind for a little while, and I believe is so pivotal for leaders, especially those in small businesses. It's about saying no while leading with respect. No.

Let's talk about that word. Too little letters such a small word, yet it can feel like one of the most challenging words to say at times. So often we find ourselves saying yes when what we really need deep down is a resounding no. We over commit. We stretch ourselves too thin, and we follow paths that don't align with our business's true needs. Let's face it. The cold, hard truth is that we didn't start a business to make friends. We created a business to deliver the promise of our vision, to get results for the clients and customers that we're working with.

But so many small business leaders are stuck and in this trap of saying yes. Well, theoretically, in our mind, we understand that every decision and commitment we make affects our business's trajectory, but we often say yes when we know it might not be in our best interest. Perhaps we fear being perceived into as mean or rude or aggressive. Let me dive into a few examples here, and I want you to think and see if you can see yourself in these examples. Let's meet Sally, small business owner. She's already juggling a 1000000 tasks and barely being able to keep her head above the water. But when a friend asks for a favor, a favor that has nothing to do with her business, she says yes, because she doesn't want to seem unsupportive. This favor takes a way longer than expected, and Sally keeps working at it.

This yes takes her away from her core business tasks, delaying her growth, and causing stress. Now, I'm not suggesting that as business leaders, we shouldn't be have time to help our friends and family. Of course, we should. But we have to put in perspective what we're saying yes to. What about the people pleasers? I know there's some of them out there. Let's imagine for a second that you're a manager in a small marketing agency. Your team members often ask for personal days off often for different working arrangements that fit their individual needs. You agree every time because you want to be the cool boss, but this leads to inconsistency in work arrangements, causes resentment among your team, and significantly impacts your productivity.

You see, the allure of being liked can create such a situation of unfairness and blurred lines. It's critical to understand that likability is subjective, not objective. And as leaders, if we chase the elusive goal of being universally liked. We risk sacrificing consistency and fairness. Or what about the inconsistent leader? Perhaps you've seen yourself in this scenario. Let's take Dave. He's a CEO who always says yes to the loudest voice in the room. He wants to be liked by everyone, but his decisions lack consistency.

This leads to mass confusion among his team that can't predict how his ideas will be received, and in the end, they might not really like Dave as much as he had hoped for. What we need to be striving for as leaders is respect. Respect isn't about whether people like you as a person. It's about how they perceive the decisions you make and the principles guiding those decisions. Our ultimate goal as business leaders is to achieve results. We didn't embark on this journey to win a popularity contest. We're here to bring our visions to life, to make a difference, to make an impact, and to drive our businesses towards success. But my friends, respect isn't something that is automatically bestowed upon you when you assume a leadership role.

It's something you have to earn, and that process often involves making conscious decisions and demonstrating certain qualities. Today, I want to dive into 10 key aspects of earning respect as a business leader. Let's go. Number 1, clarity and transparency. Leaders who are open about their intentions, their decisions, and the reasoning behind them build trust with their teams. When you can clearly articulate the why behind your actions, it fosters understanding and demonstrates that you value your team's insight. So let's have an example. Imagine you're the CEO of a small software development company, and you need to to cancel a project that your team has been working on tirelessly.

Instead of just saying no to the project, you take the time to explain what's happening in the market, the budget constraints that you currently have, and how this decision aligns with the long term goals of your company. This level of transparency shows respect for you and also respect for your team's understanding and their intelligence. Alright. The 2nd tip for being for earning respect as a leader is consistency. Your team should know that your decisions are guided by a consistent set of principles and values. To maintain consistency, you must avoid favoritism or showing bias towards certain team members. You have to treat all team members equally and apply your principles consistently across the board. When you remain unwavering in your values, your team is way more likely to respect your decisions even when they don't always agree with them.

And certainly, if you need more clarity on your values and you're not certain that your team knows your values, now is the time to make a change. Review your values, tweak and update them, and most importantly, communicate them to your team. A third tip for earning respect as a leader is accountability. Accountability is a hallmark of respected Leaders. It involves taking responsibility for your actions, whether they resulted in success or setbacks. When you make a decision that doesn't pan out as expected, and you own up to it, and you take corrective action, that demonstrates integrity. Accountable leaders don't shift, blame, or make excuses. They view mistakes as opportunities for growth and learning, and they encourage their team members to adopt a similar mindset.

Imagine you have a project manager on your team, and they are overseeing a certain project, and it goes over budget, and it misses a crucial deadline. Instead of shifting blame, your project manager accepts the responsibility, analyzes what went wrong, and puts measures in place to prevent it happening again. Your team now respects that project manager and sees them as a commitment to continuous improvement. The 4th aspect of earning respect There is empathy and active listening. Empathy is ability to understand and share the feelings of others, and it's a critical component of earning respect as a leader. When your team feels heard and understood, they are way more likely to trust your leadership. You can build empathy by regularly engaging in 1 on 1 conversations with team members, asking open ended questions, and showing genuine interest in their well-being. Leading by example is about embodying the behavior and work ethic that you expect from your team.

So as an example, if you have a policy of punctuality and professionalism in your business, you need to adhere to this. You're always on time for meetings. You're dressed appropriately. You handle challenges. Your team respects your dedication to the standards that you've set for your organization, and when your team sees you consistently living up to your own expectations, They respect you. Inclusivity and collaboration. Leaders who foster a collaborative environment and build trust and respect. They make team members feel like valued stakeholders.

How do you cultivate this? This can be done through regular brainstorming sessions asking your team about certain situations within your business, providing open forums for feedback, and solving team members in project planning and execution. The 7th aspect of earning Respect as a leader is integrity and ethics. Now I could go on this one for quite a while, but we gotta keep it short for today. Your team should have complete confidence that you will consistently do what's right, even when it's challenging. You need to maintain a commitment to honesty, fairness, and ethical conduct in all aspects of your leadership. Your team respects your unwavering dedication, and they know they can trust your decision making. Number 8, recognizing and appreciating. Acknowledging your team's hard work and expressing appreciation in further contributions is a powerful way to earn respect.

Recognition can take place in many various forms, but it can be simple too. Don't over complicate it. Simple verbal appreciation to even more formal recognition, but regularly highlighting and celebrating individuals and team achievements fosters a culture of respect and appreciation. The 9th one, lifelong learner. Leaders who earn respect understand that leadership is an ongoing journey of growth and development. We're working every day to be 1% better than we were yesterday. Lifelong learners are open to new ideas, perspectives, and innovations. And when your team sees your dedication to growth, they respect your leadership and are inspired to pursue their own development.

And last but not least, adaptability and resiliency. In an online rapidly changing world, leaders who are adaptable and resilient earn respect. They embrace change and proactively seek solutions to challenges. When you remain steadfast in your commitment to your vision, Even when you're faced with setbacks, your team witnesses your resilience and your adaptability, and they respect your ability to lead through difficult times. As you lead your business, remember the power of no. Don't let the fear of being unlike to deter you from making decisions that pro that will propel your company forward. Being liked is not the the same as being respected, and it's respect that will earn you loyalty and trust. Take a moment to reflect on your leadership journey.

Are you prioritizing likability over respect? If so, it's time for a shift. Lead with respect, Make those tough decisions, and watch your business flourish. Thank you for joining me on CEO amplify. Until next time, Keep leading with courage, conviction, and the power of no. Thank you for joining me on this episode of CEO amplified. I appreciate you being part of our thriving community of ambitious business owners. If you enjoy today's So kindly ask you to share this podcast with a friend and take a hot minute to rate and leave a review. It would mean the world to me. Your feedback helps you reach more people and continue providing valuable content. Thanks so much for your support. Keep shining, and we'll catch you on the next episode.