Certain individuals command respect naturally through all their interactions. They generally carry and radiate an energy that makes it impossible not to see them as worthy of respect and admiration.
Such people seem special – and indeed they are – but they probably didn’t get that way without hard work. Achieving a position in life where others automatically accord you respect takes time and effort.
You can find courses and seminars that will teach you some of the techniques and strategies. At the root, however, this requires the cultivation of a way of being in the world.
Who you are with other people sets a foundation for how they respond and how much respect they grant you.
Do you desire respect from others? If you’re hoping for ways to generate greater natural authority among other people, these tips will help.
1. Work on your smile
Your smile is one of the first things that commands respect. Generally speaking, a genuine, soft smile will inspire greater esteem than forced or fake smiles.
This isn’t something you can force if you’re not accustomed to it – you’ll have to train yourself to smile authentically.
One thing that will strengthen your smile is having beautiful teeth. If you’re missing teeth, you might understandably restrain your smiles because you lack confidence.
If this is the case, you might consider getting dental implants to create a full, beautiful smile. Implants are fairly common and you can find a dentist to perform this procedure just about anywhere.
For example, Clear Choice identifies dental implants in The Woodlands, Texas, region and 75+ other locations. Similar services are available in most major cities across the United States.
When you obtain implants to replace your missing teeth, you’ll automatically smile bigger without holding back.
2. Be generous with others
A small amount of generosity can go a long way with others. However, generosity doesn’t exist simply in terms of physical gifts or money.
Being generous with others can involve extending them respect, acknowledgment, and recognition as well. For example, why not compliment people when it’s due? Tell people you’re proud of them and recognize their accomplishments, no matter how small.
You’d be surprised to know how many people go through life without being acknowledged for things that meant a lot to them. In addition, when they did receive feedback, it consisted of surface-level acknowledgements that didn’t feel genuine.
The deeper you go with your generosity, the more respect you’ll generate. When you’re generous with others, they’ll feel wonderful in your company and they’ll naturally respect and admire you.
As people come to respect and admire you, they’ll become more willing to take your advice and suggestions.
3. Eliminate qualifiers from your speech
Something many of us may not realize we do is employ qualifiers that diminish ourselves in conversation. For example, you might preface a suggestion by saying, “this is probably going to sound stupid, but….”
Abolish these negative qualifiers from your speech, because they damage your ability to command respect from others. People who naturally command approbation display a high level of confidence.
When you preface or salt your comments with a negative qualifier, this encourages people to regard you as lacking confidence. Using such qualifiers might make it easier to accept rejection, but you’ll also find you experience less rejection when you declare your ideas with confidence.
Genuine confidence is exceptionally influential.
4. Learn how to accept compliments
It’s too easy in our society to fall into the trap of brushing off our accomplishments as though they’re inconsequential. For example, when someone congratulates you on a good deed or completed task, you might casually respond, “yeah, it was no biggie.”
It’s common for people to brush away a compliment, perhaps they don’t want others to assume they were competing for recognition. Doing so on a regular basis can dampen our self-esteem, however, and gives off an insecure vibe.
Don’t be afraid to accept compliments and acknowledge them with a big “Thank you!”
5. Keep your promises
People who keep their promises enjoy the respect of others. Unfortunately, some of us make promises we can’t keep, without recognizing how much that lets others down.
Keeping your promises is one of the most effective ways to earn respect that leads to natural influence.
Being respected makes your life better
When people respect you, life is inherently better. Fortunately, you can command respect without being forceful or demanding.
Whether you’re looking at your relationships or your work habits, earning respect makes life easier. You mustn’t fight to be heard and you don’t have to justify your choices with force.
If you believe you’re not receiving the respect you desire or deserve, and you’re struggling to maintain influence in your relationships or career, try the tips outlined in this article. When you make positive changes along these lines, you’ll see better outcomes in every facet of your life.