David J Paul Project Management Professional, Management Professor, Author and Small Business Manager
If you have been following this series of posts, you know what “Regard” is and how powerful it is. Regard is respect plus real affection or care for the other individual. At a recent talk in Santa Rosa, I gave an illustration, using data, of the power of “Regard” at work by showing the correlation of its (Regard’s) items to Engagement. In this case, Engagement is measured by the Utrecht Worker Engagement Scale, (UWES) and Caring is measured by the answers to the questions, I feel cared for at work when I receive or experience (the Item). In social science studies, any correlation above 0.30 is considered significant. Look at the powerful correlations in the top 15 caring items related to engagement. Now, you can take these and put them in Excel and graph them and have all kinds of fun. So, now you know. It may be 50% more important to give someone Professional Growth Opportunities, to encourage and support them, to have them feel productive and important and to give them responsibility. (Total Correlation 2.308) than it is to have them have input to decision making, give them professional acknowledgement, have them feel trusted, complimented and praised (Total Correlation 1.739). You now have a way to choose.
Professional growth opportunities (AA) 0.478 Regard
Feel encouraged and supported (I) 0.472 Regard
Productive (Y) 0.467 Respect
Feel important (J) 0.459 Respect
Increased responsibility (O) 0.432 Reward
Allowed to lead (B) 0.432 Regard
Thoughts/opinions are valued (FF) 0.426 Regard
Personal interest or connection 
0.414 Regard
Listened to (Q) 0.412 Respect
Given opportunity to do best (N) 0.410 Regard
Input into decision making (P) 0.408 Respect
Professional acknowledgement (Z) 0.397 Reward
Trusted (GG) 0.393 Respect
Complimented (D) 0.294 Reward
Praised (X) 0.246 Reward
The Cameron Group, Inc. 