The High Cost of Disrespect
by Miki Saxon
The last few days we’ve been talking various aspects and effects of respect, but one of the most important to business is its effect on creativity and innovation (they’re not the same thing), although we touched on it when talking about the drawbacks of a “nice” culture.
The opposite of respect is disrespect and if it permeates a culture you can count on four things.
- Less creativity;
- less innovation;
- higher attrition; and
- ‘nice’, homogenized candidates.
From this perspective, “misfits” are valuable to companies. They don’t quite fit into a specific team. They’re always challenging why the company does what it does. They’re rebellious. They’re independent. They can seem counterproductive to everything that a manager needs to achieve—to maintain order.
But those are the people that are going to change the game on how your company innovates.
As a boss, culture is your responsibility. You can’t afford to assume that your boss or their boss will make the right choices.
No matter the scope, within your organization it’s your choice.
Choose wisely.
Image credit: MiloszB