Respect at work should be an obvious value in every organization, regardless of position or department. It’s one of those principles everyone talks about, yet not everyone practices in everyday situations. Sometimes, it only takes a simple example to realize how easily respect can be forgotten.
Imagine working in a large international company as a quality specialist. Your desk is your workspace – you have your notes, documents, and your company laptop, where you’re preparing an important report for your manager. Suddenly, several auditors walk into the room. They don’t greet anyone or introduce themselves. They start commenting on something near your desk, glance at your computer screen, and then ask you to move aside. You roll your chair a few meters away and watch as strangers use your laptop, browse through data, and discuss your work. After a few minutes, you hear: “Thank you, you can get back to work now.”
You’re shocked. Someone just interrupted your task, entered your space, and didn’t even apologize. It’s not about the equipment – it’s about a lack of respect.
Lack of Respect at Work Is Not Limited to the Office
Unfortunately, situations like this happen every day – especially in manufacturing. Many auditors, engineers, or leaders walk onto the shop floor believing they can “check” anything without notice or conversation. They approach a machine, ask the operator to move, and sometimes don’t say a single word. The operator, who’s focused on his work, suddenly loses control of his station – and yet this is his daily place of responsibility.
It’s worth pausing for a moment and asking:
Is there really a difference between a specialist’s desk and an operator’s machine?
Both are workplaces. Both belong to the company. And at both, someone is doing their best to perform their job well.
Respect at work doesn’t depend on whether someone sits at a desk or stands at a production line. It depends on attitude – on whether we can treat others the way we’d like to be treated ourselves.
Respect at Work According to TWI – Job Relations
This simple idea has long been a cornerstone of the TWI (Training Within Industry) program, especially in the Job Relations module.
Developed over 70 years ago, the program feels more relevant today than ever. In an era when companies advance technology and automation, human relationships still determine how effectively an organization operates.
In the TWI Job Relations module, leaders learn four key principles for building trust:
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Treat people with respect.
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Listen to their problems.
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Handle issues before they become serious.
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Recognize good ideas and initiative.
It sounds simple, but in practice, it requires daily attention. These aren’t empty slogans from a presentation – they are concrete behaviors that build a healthy organizational culture.
Why Respect at Work Matters
Respect at work is not a “nice-to-have.” It’s a fundamental condition for people to feel engaged in their duties and willing to collaborate.
Where respect is missing, frustration, turnover, and indifference grow.
Respect fosters an environment where:
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employees feel seen and valued,
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communication becomes open and honest,
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leaders earn real authority,
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and problems are solved faster and more effectively.
In Lean culture, we talk about two main pillars: continuous improvement and respect for people.
Without the second one, the first doesn’t make sense. You can’t improve processes if you don’t respect the people who perform them.
How to Show Respect – Practical Tips
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Always introduce yourself. Even if you visit a workstation for 30 seconds, the person there deserves to know who you are.
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Ask before touching. Whether it’s a laptop or a machine panel – it’s someone’s workspace.
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Explain your purpose. Tell people why you’re checking something. Most are fine with it once they understand why.
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Say thank you. A simple gesture that builds trust.
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Ask for opinions. Operators, technicians, and specialists often have the best improvement ideas – you just need to ask.
Summary
Respect at work is not a rulebook clause or a motivational poster. It’s a daily behavior toward the people you work with – no matter their position.
It starts with small things: a greeting, attentiveness, and awareness that everyone has their own place and responsibility.
Remember that your work – regardless of your role – only has meaning thanks to the work of others.
So next time you walk into the office, the shop floor, or a meeting room, do something simple: show respect.
It’s the easiest – and at the same time, the hardest – form of continuous improvement in any organization.
I am a promoter of Lean Management and the Training Within Industry program. I am a practitioner. I co-create many startups. Since 2015, I have been the CEO of Leantrix - a leading Lean consulting company in Poland, which, starting from 2024, organizes one of the largest conferences dedicated to lean management in Poland - the Lean TWI Summit. Since 2019, I have been the CEO of Do Lean IT OU, a company registered in Estonia that creates the software etwi.io, used by dozens of manufacturing and service companies in Europe and the USA.
Maciej Antosik – management student at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. I support the Leantrix team in carrying out projects. Among other things, I was responsible for implementing the conference application during the Lean TWI Summit. Currently, I am responsible for marketing and also collaborate on the creation of Kaizen UP and Wiktor Wołoszczuk’s podcast.
Outside of my studies and work, I am developing as a personal trainer and train professionally in powerlifting. Sports teach me discipline and consistency, which I also apply in my professional life. What brings me the greatest satisfaction is personal growth and achieving long-term goals that require courage and pushing beyond my own limits.
In my free time, I am passionate about cooking, traveling, and music – these are spaces for me to act creatively and discover new inspirations. I consider myself ambitious and open-minded, always ready for the next challenge.
