The concept of honor has all but been erased from my generation and those that have come after. Honoring those in authority over us has become confused with earning respect. Honor is not dependent on performance or likability; it is something due to every person based on their intrinsic worth as human beings. Choosing to honor those around you will have a reciprocal effect. Nothing raises your level of influence more than showing honor to those in authority over you.

When you honor—and show respect to—your superiors, you will gain their trust. Trust is the currency of leaders; it is their relational bank account. The more they sense that you honor them, the more trust they will invest in you. Your honor establishes what I like to call a “Trust Fund.” This fund determines your level of influence. Honor given is trust received, and your trust fund increases with each deposit. However, the opposite is also true: if you fail to honor your leaders, you will bankrupt your “trust fund” and lose your influence.

Have you ever considered the possibility of leading your superiors? When those in authority trust you, they will seek your insight into matters, and you can impact the decisions they make. Have you ever noticed how some people seem to have the ear of their leaders, while others can barely garner a “hello”? Which one are you? Which one would you like to be?

The more you develop your ability to honor those above you, the more influence you can potentially have on your whole organization. I’m not talking about ingratiating yourself. Neither does it involve lying, cheating, or manipulating your leaders. Honor must be genuine to be sustainable and influential. Author Darren Hardy wrote, “When people fake anything, they only produce more fakeness, and that leads to disconnect, trouble, misery and ultimately failure.”

Honor must come from a genuine alignment of what you say and do.

* Taken from my book 5 Ways To Get A Raise: Greater Influence = Greater Income available on Amazon Prime Here