First You Earn Their Respect Then You Earn Their Loyalty

 

 

Musing About First You Earn Their Respect, Then You Earn Their Loyalty

 

 

2025 here at The Wealthy Ironworker has seen some interesting developments, both in conception and execution. For example, The Leadership Series continues to develop, with new articles dropping and the series expanding as necessary. Conceptually, I have kicked around the idea of taking general sayings and creating a Musing about them.

So that’s what we are starting today.

Today’s saying, “First you earn their respect, then you earn their loyalty,” is timely since we’ve been exploring leadership. The reason? Because it has leadership undertones throughout – AND it’s what I have experienced firsthand.

When I took my current role (ironworker superintendent for an industrial company), the place lacked any real leadership, and it showed via a poor culture. The adjective I like to use most to describe things is “dumpster fire.”

Slowly but surely, changes were implemented. Some people left on their own accord, while others were let go. Effort was put into finding – and even more importantly, developing – top talent. Trying to find a balance between keeping a customer happy, the company functioning, and gaining the respect of others was tedious at times. While navigating through this all, I had a statement that I would remind myself of:

 

First, you earn their respect, then you earn their loyalty.

 

Respect is earned far easier than loyalty, but to get loyalty, you MUST have respect.

I’ve seen some guys in the field demand respect and loyalty, and yes, your position can get you some respect, but it isn’t the respect you’d ultimately like to have. Positional respect is manufactured. Earned respect is genuine and lasting.

How do I know this? Because after 8 months or so of intentional change, I have not only earned the respect of those I lead, but I’ve also earned their loyalty – and what a difference that makes.

 

How Do You Achieve This?

 

Every situation is different, as is who you are and who the people you may lead are. There are some constants, however, that you must employ if you are to get respect that leads to loyalty.

So, what are they?

First and foremost, you MUST be intentional about it. If you think you can halfway convince yourself of this, you are sadly mistaken. There will be plenty of times you will have to rely on being intentional; obstacles, circumstances, and people will attempt to derail you. In a world of nonintentional people, be the exception and not the rule.

Second, you must have perseverance. Remember all of the things and people who will attempt to derail you from what you are trying to do? Fueled by your intentionality, you must persevere through all of that to get to the finish line.

Third, you need to be genuine and authentic. The people you seek to lead must know that you are who you say you are, do what you say you do, don’t have them do something or put them in a position you yourself wouldn’t do/be – all of these and so much more they must see. There are far too many people who are fake – don’t be one yourself.

Fourth, perspective is a must. If you can’t see not just what you need/want to do, how to do it, how to deal with obstacles, what you must do to solve problems, and – this is a big one – what the capacity and capabilities are of those you lead, then you only add difficulties for yourself.

 

For what it’s worth, if the above sounds like a lot, just know the juice is worth the squeeze. Internalize this truth:

 

First, you earn their respect, then you earn their loyalty.