"Respect is how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress." – Richard Branson
In business analysis, respect is a currency that can often be more valuable than authority. Whether you’re working on complex projects, leading teams, or trying to influence senior decision-makers, the respect you command—both at an institutional and interpersonal level—can determine the course of your career and the success of your initiatives. But not all respect is the same. Understanding the subtle but powerful distinction between institutional and interpersonal respect can unlock new paths to influence, trust, and leadership.
In this article, we’ll dive into the difference between these two types of respect, explore their impact on your professional trajectory, and take a historical perspective on how they’ve been applied to great effect.
Institutional Respect: The Power of Position
Institutional respect comes from the position or authority you hold within an organization. It's the kind of respect that stems from your title, your achievements, or the formal influence you’ve accumulated through experience, education, and proven expertise.
Think of it like a crown that a business analyst wears—whether they’ve worked their way up in the organization or have brought in the respect through outside achievements. This respect is not necessarily about who you are as a person, but about what you represent within the institution. It’s built on reputation, credibility, and status.
Historical Example: Nelson Mandela and the Presidency
Nelson Mandela's presidency of South Africa is a powerful example of institutional respect wielded to advance both personal and national goals. After decades of imprisonment and struggle, Mandela became a symbol of freedom and justice. His institutional respect—rooted in his position as president—allowed him to contribute to dismantling apartheid and unify a divided nation. But, as we will see later, Mandela also understood the importance of interpersonal respect, which played an equally crucial role in his success.
In the business world, institutional respect opens doors. When others see that you’ve reached a certain level of achievement, they are more likely to listen, to trust your judgment, and to give you the benefit of the doubt. But institutional respect alone can only get you so far. Without the foundation of interpersonal respect, your influence may be limited to those who are compelled to respect your position rather than those who genuinely believe in your leadership.
Interpersonal Respect: The Strength of Connection
While institutional respect is earned through your position or accomplishments, interpersonal respect is a more personal form of admiration that comes from how you treat others, your emotional intelligence, and your ability to connect on a human level. This is the respect that’s cultivated in the day-to-day interactions you have with colleagues, stakeholders, and clients.
Interpersonal respect is often what makes people want to work with you, not because they must, but because they believe in you. It’s built on trust, empathy, active listening, and humility.
Historical Example: Mahatma Gandhi and the Power of Humility
Mahatma Gandhi’s journey for Indian independence didn’t rely on institutional power—he had none in the formal sense. What made Gandhi a formidable leader was the interpersonal respect he garnered through humility, non-violence, and the ability to connect with people on a deeply human level. Even those in positions of power, like British officials, respected Gandhi’s character, which amplified his influence far beyond what institutional respect could have afforded him.
In your role as a business analyst, interpersonal respect can be the difference between having a team that is merely compliant and one that is genuinely motivated. When people respect you for who you are—not just for your title—they are more likely to be open, honest, and cooperative, making it easier for you to achieve your goals.
The Perfect Balance: Combining Institutional and Interpersonal Respect
The most effective business leaders understand how to wield both types of respect in tandem. Institutional respect will get you a seat at the table, but interpersonal respect will ensure that people listen when you speak. While institutional respect can grant you authority, interpersonal respect earns you loyalty.
Case Study: Steve Jobs—From Institutional to Interpersonal Mastery
In the early stages of his career, Steve Jobs was respected institutionally as the co-founder of Apple, a technological visionary who changed the environment of personal computing. However, Jobs was known to struggle with interpersonal respect. His abrasive management style led to internal strife, which eventually culminated in his ousting from the company he helped create.
But when Jobs returned to Apple in the late 1990s, he had grown not just in his technical and business acumen but in his ability to connect with others on a human level. His second tenure at Apple was marked by a more balanced leadership approach, combining institutional respect for his unparalleled vision with interpersonal respect for his more collaborative and empathetic management style. The result? The creation of iconic products and the transformation of Apple into one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Applying the Power of Respect in Your Career
As a business analyst, you’re often in a unique position—bridging the gap between stakeholders, end users, and the technical team. Understanding the balance between institutional and interpersonal respect can make you more effective in this role.
- Build Your Institutional Respect
Earn institutional respect by continuously developing your skills, acquiring relevant certifications, and delivering consistently high-quality work. Demonstrate your value to the organization by contributing to its broader goals, not just your immediate tasks. Make yourself visible, take on challenges, and be a thought leader within your domain.
- Cultivate Interpersonal Respect
Foster interpersonal respect by being approachable, empathetic, and a good listener. Take the time to understand the perspectives of others and build relationships across different levels of the organization. Show humility by admitting when you don’t have all the answers, and foster collaboration by valuing the contributions of others.
- Use Both to Drive Change
In a rapidly evolving business environment, your ability to lead change depends on how well you can leverage both forms of respect. If you rely solely on institutional respect, you risk coming across as detached or authoritarian. If you focus only on interpersonal respect, you may struggle to assert the authority needed to drive major initiatives. The key is to use both strategically.
Current Example: Remote Work and the Battle for Change
Consider the ongoing debate over remote work, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many institutions are pushing for a return to the pre-pandemic status quo, including Amazon’s announcement that it will require employees to return to the office full-time by January 2025. This insistence on returning to traditional work structures, despite widespread success with remote work, represents an institutional reluctance to embrace change.
However, leaders who have cultivated both institutional and interpersonal respect are better positioned to influence this shift. Employees who respect their leaders both for their positions and their personal connections are more likely to trust new models, like hybrid work, that benefit both business productivity and employee well-being.
Conclusion: Respect as the Key to Career Advancement
In business analysis, success is not only measured by the projects you complete but by the respect you earn along the way. Institutional respect may give you power, but interpersonal respect gives you influence—and the most successful professionals know how to harness both.
As you continue to advance in your career, remember that the real leaders aren’t just those with the most impressive titles, but those who inspire the deepest respect. By building both forms of respect strategically, you’ll not only advance your career but also create lasting impact in your organization.
In the end, Richard Branson’s quote rings true: Respect is how you treat everyone, not just those you want to impress. And when respect flows in both directions, success inevitably follows.
Author: Olam Osah
Olam Osah is a seasoned Project Manager and strategic leader with a strong foundation in business analysis and information systems. He holds a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Cape Town, along with Honours and Masters degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Olam specializes in leading complex projects that bridge technology and business, delivering impactful solutions across public and private sectors. Known for his ability to turn vision into actionable plans, he combines academic depth with real-world execution to drive results. Connect with him at [email protected].