Respect and Tone in Communication – What It Is vs What It Should Be

"Communication is the foundation of every workplace relationship. The tone we use and the respect we show (or don’t show) directly impacts employee morale, productivity, and retention. Today, we’re discussing the importance of respectful and empathetic communication and how it should be in every workplace."

What It Is: Common Instances of Disrespectful Communication

• Direct Dismissals of Ideas

  • Example: During a brainstorming meeting, an employee shares a new idea, only to hear, “That will never work,” without any consideration.

  • Impact: This kind of dismissal can demoralise employees, stifling creativity and innovation.

• Harsh Feedback Delivery

  • Example: A manager calls out an employee’s mistake in front of the team, using words like, “This is unacceptable. How did you let this happen?”

  • Impact: Public criticism can embarrass employees, damaging their self-confidence and creating a toxic environment.

• Ignoring Personal Boundaries

  • Example: Employees receive work emails or messages late at night with an expectation for immediate responses, showing little respect for personal time.

  • Impact: Disrespecting personal time can lead to burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and a sense of being undervalued.

• Inconsistent Communication Styles

  • Example: Employees receive positive feedback privately, but all negative feedback is made public.

  • Impact: This inconsistent approach can cause confusion and resentment, as employees may feel unfairly treated.

What It Should Be: Best Practices for Respectful and Empathetic Communication

• Use Active Listening Techniques

  • Tip: Show employees that their ideas and concerns are valued by actively listening. Instead of dismissing an idea, try responding with, “That is an interesting perspective. Let’s explore it further.”

  • Example: During meetings, pause to summarise employees’ points to show you are engaged and value their input.

• Offer Constructive Feedback Privately and Positively

  • Tip: Whenever possible, provide feedback in private and frame it positively. For example, say, “I see where you are coming from. Here’s how we can improve it further.”

  • Example: “Your report was thorough; perhaps we could streamline the data a bit more to make it easier to read.”

• Respect Personal Boundaries

  • Tip: Respect employees’ personal time by setting boundaries for after-hours communication. For example, send non-urgent messages with a note like, “Respond when you are back online.”

  • Example: Create policies that discourage non-urgent communication outside of working hours, signalling that you respect employees’ work-life balance.

• Maintain Consistency in Tone

  • Tip: Consistently apply the same level of respect and tone for all types of communication—positive or constructive.

  • Example: If you praise publicly, offer corrective feedback with the same tone of respect privately.

"Respect and empathy in workplace communication are not just ideal—they are essential. This week, let’s commit to improving how we communicate, listening more, and fostering a culture of respect. At People Connekt, we believe every workplace can be a respectful, empathetic environment, and we are here to help organisations get there."