Yes, people who get a lot of respect work hard. But they’re also rather careful with their time, and they’ve learned which things ruin their credibility & peace of mind. They cut those things out.
Here are ten things highly respected people never waste time on. Which ones do you think cost people the most respect these days?
Endless social scrolling during work hours
Yes, it’s quite easy to tell yourself that you’re just going to check Instagram or TikTok. But then you lose twenty minutes doing so. Highly respected people refuse to rely on willpower to keep them away from pointless social media sites & they’ll remove the temptation instead.
They’ll block these apps during work hours. They’ll still use social media, just only when there’s time to do so. It’s never a reflex for them while they’re waiting. People respect them for their dedication to their work.
Filling days with small, low-stakes decisions
Having to choose what to eat for lunch & picking fonts for a presentation gets tiring. They’re small decisions that use your mental energy. Why not reserve it for something else?
Highly respected people will automate or delegate such decisions because they understand that giving themselves fewer choices leaves them with more energy for the stuff that actually matters.
People respect that these people make the choices that they need to make, without any excessive worrying. They just get their stuff done.
Office gossip cycles
You’ll never see respected people hanging out by the coffee machine, whispering about who said what. As the saying goes, “small minds talk about people, big minds talk about ideas.”
Highly respected people know that loops of gossip never end well. A little conversation’s okay. But they’ll always step away before it becomes story hour.
Staying out of the rumour mill saves them time. It also prevents awkward moments later, and it’s one of the biggest reasons these people are seen so positively by their peers.
Reacting to every rumour
Likewise, they won’t react to every piece of information they’ve heard. They wait it out. Other people might fire off messages to check in, but these people would rather approach things calmly. Those around them feel as though they can trust these people because they know they won’t panic or spread nonsense.
The simple fact that they’re so steady earns them respect. When something really does happen, they’re the person people actually go to.
Chasing credit for group work
Respected people rarely rush to grab the spotlight when something goes right. Instead, they’ll talk about how the team worked to pull the task off together. They’re not being fake modest. They genuinely believe in the hard work of those around them & they want others to be rewarded for their hard work.
Keeping your head down to deliver results comes off far better than claiming credit too fast. Why? Because stealing the spotlight tells people you need attention a little too much.
Arguing on social media threads
Respected people don’t find spending the night debating strangers online interesting. As soon as people start arguing on a comment, they’ll close the tab & move on. But not because they lack opinions. It’s just that they know internet arguments never end with “good point.”
They’d much prefer to talk things out in person because tone & eye contact exist. Winning internet points means nothing to them.
Keeping long grudges
Holding a grudge eats up time you could spend doing quite literally anything else. Highly respected people know that. Rather than replaying old arguments & fixating on past problems, they’ll talk things through once.
They’ll set boundaries when needed. Then, they allow the issue to slide because they have other things to do. Other people recognize that a bad leader is someone who can’t get over the past. A person who can move on is someone most people admire.
Overexplaining every decision
Knowing when to stop talking is quite a powerful skill. Respected people have it in spades. They’ll give the basics of what’s happening & why, then they’ll get back to work.
They refuse to pile on details to justify their choices, nor will they do so to sound smarter. People like this trust their judgment enough to let their actions prove their point.
They might explain themselves later. But that’s more for clarity than approval, and it’s a difference that the people around them recognize almost immediately. It earns them respect.
Showing off busy-ness
The performance of chaos is meaningless & respected people recognize that. Bragging about packed calendars? Gloating about running on fumes? They’re not into this. The people everyone respects manage to keep their cool because they plan ahead & delegate. They’re busy without needing to talk about it.
It’s such silence that draws admiration from others because it shows they have a sense of control over themselves. Telling people how busy you are is a simple waste of time.
Trying to fix people who don’t want help
One thing respected people know above all is that you can’t help someone who’s not ready. Sure, they might listen & offer a thought or two. But then they’ll step aside. Not because they’re cold, just that they understand boundaries and how forcing advice on other people usually backfires.
They’d much prefer to keep the friendship rather than win by repairing the problem. People around them read such restraint as confidence more than indifference. It’s why they’re so respected.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.