Credibility has two dimensions: Competence (your ability to do the work) gets presumed as you become more senior, while character (how people perceive your integrity) requires intentional demonstration through small signs of respect
Consistency matters more than grand gestures: How you do one thing is how you do everything - showing respect to the front desk greeter the same way you show it to senior leaders reveals your authentic character
Common unintentional disrespect signals: Canceling meetings last minute, not responding to emails timely, interrupting people, not greeting colleagues in hallways, and being distracted during conversations all compound over time
Listen to understand, not to reply: Write down what you want to say instead of interrupting, pause 3 seconds before responding, and practice saying "tell me more" to demonstrate genuine listening
Virtual respect requires extra effort: Be intentional about camera usage, avoid eating on camera when others aren't, schedule meetings that accommodate different time zones, and work harder to convey respect with limited context

"Respect is about wanting our teams to hold us in high regard, to believe we have value, and to trust our judgment - and it's not just about our teams, it's about people we need to influence down, across, and up."
"How you do one thing is how you do everything. That's the way people judge you and the lens through which they evaluate who you are."
"There's a tendency to be more respectful up to people who are more senior, and less respectful when leading across or down. But you should be showing signs of respect regardless of hierarchy."
"As leaders, our time is highly symbolic of what's important to us. If we're being intentional about being present and listening, we're saying that you matter and you're important to me."
"Sometimes increasing your urgency around response can really increase your ability to be seen as someone who's respectful and values other people."

Katie Angstadt is an Executive Coach & Partner at CRA | Admired Leadership, known for making people feel like they're the only person in the room through her warm, thoughtful, and fully present approach. With extensive experience coaching senior leaders on credibility and relationship building, she specializes in helping leaders demonstrate character through consistent, authentic actions. A triathlon participant who practices the respect principles she teaches.
Wes Bender serves as a facilitator and thought leadership coordinator at CRA | Admired Leadership, helping to connect practical leadership insights with real-world application through webinars and educational content. Fresh off facilitating a successful on-location event in Boston.