Why Respect is the Strongest Currency in Business
Respect goes further than authority
When I served in the Parachute Regiment and later the Special Forces Support Group, I learnt quickly that authority only takes you so far. You can have the title, the rank, the right to give orders, but none of it matters if the people you lead do not respect you.
Respect is built on consistency. It is built on showing up, doing your part, and treating others fairly. Soldiers do not follow a leader because they have to. They follow because they trust that leader. Business works the same way. People can tell the difference between a boss who hides behind a title and one who earns their trust day by day.
Treating people the same
One of the principles I carry into every venture is that everyone deserves the same level of respect. I do not draw a line between someone wearing a suit in the boardroom and someone in a high-vis jacket on site. Both are essential. Both are skilled in ways I am not.
At The British Regeneration Project, for example, I work with developers, landowners, architects, and labourers. Each brings something vital to the table. The best results come when everyone feels valued, not when one group is seen as more important than the others.
Respect creates loyalty
Fear can get results in the short term. People will do what you ask if they are afraid of the consequences. But fear does not create loyalty. Fear does not make people go the extra mile.
Respect, on the other hand, does. When people feel respected, they want to contribute more. They want to stay. They want to be part of the journey. That is what builds sustainable businesses.
Castle International has grown quickly because of this culture. We do not just work with clients; we build partnerships. When clients see that we respect their vision and their investment, they trust us with bigger projects. That trust is earned, not demanded.
Respect builds better partnerships
In property development, partnerships are everything. A single project involves dozens of stakeholders, from councils to contractors to local communities. Without respect, those relationships fall apart.
When we launched Plas Coch Luxury Escapes in North Wales, it was not just about creating high-end holiday accommodation. It was about working with local landowners, designers, and suppliers in a way that made them want to be part of the project. Respecting their input made the outcome stronger. That same principle applies to larger projects like the 1,400 homes currently in the works in Blackpool.
The cost of ego
I have seen what happens when respect is replaced by ego. Meetings where people talk over each other, projects delayed because no one listens, teams falling apart because individuals think they are more important than the group.
Ego blinds people. Respect keeps them grounded. The more complex a business becomes, the more essential it is that respect forms the foundation. Without it, problems multiply. With it, solutions come faster.
Respect and results
Some people might think this sounds too soft for the business world. But respect is not about being soft. It is about being smart. It reduces friction. It builds trust. It saves time and money. Most importantly, it creates an environment where people actually want to do their best work.
I have seen businesses scale on the back of respect. I have also seen them collapse because it was missing. It is not a nice-to-have. It is the strongest currency a leader can hold.
The measure of a business leader is not how many people they can order around, but how many people want to follow them. Respect is what makes the difference. It outlasts titles, contracts, and quick wins.
In the long run, the leaders who treat people with respect are the ones who build organisations that last. That is the kind of success worth having.