RESPECT OVER APPROVAL

When I first started my career, I thought it was important to be well-liked by everyone I worked with — to say yes to everything, go with the flow, and avoid conflict at all costs. I was in my early twenties and still figuring things out (as we all are at that age lol).

But over the years, I’ve come to understand that being respected and being liked are two very different things — and the former will carry you so much further in your career. Respect comes from having boundaries. From knowing your worth. From being willing to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable.

It also looks like acting with integrity, keeping your word, and making tough decisions — even when you don’t always agree with them — because it’s part of the role you hold.

This shift didn’t happen overnight for me. It was gradual, and at times, uncomfortable. Especially working in HR, where you're often caught in the middle. You don’t always agree with the choices being made by the executive team — but you’re still expected to carry them out. That’s the reality of the job, and navigating that gray area takes strength and knowing when to be impartial — not because you don’t care, but because you have to separate your personal feelings from the professional decisions you’re there to carry out.

Someone once told me, “It gets lonelier the higher up you go in corporate,” and honestly, they were right. After being in a few leadership roles myself, I can fully attest to that. You’re not there to make friends — you’re there to lead, to show up with integrity, and to make decisions that sometimes won’t make everyone happy.

But here’s what matters: Do you like yourself at the end of the day? Are you proud of how you handled a situation, even if it didn’t make you the most popular person in the room?

If you’re just starting out in your career and wondering how to build respect — start here:

• Be dependable. Do what you say you’re going to do

• Show up prepared. Whether it’s a team meeting or a 1:1 with your manager, have talking points ready

• Ask thoughtful questions. Being genuinely curious goes a long way

• Own your mistakes. I can’t emphasize this enough. Admit your mistakes and hold yourself accountable

You dont have to be loud to be respected. You just have to show up, and do a good job, to the best to your ability. That's what people remember.

Hope this helps!