Trust is essential to any relationship. Without trust, there is no relationship, no team, and no engagement. If you’re a leader, or want to be one, you have to have the trust of your people. Your people don’t always have to agree with you for you to be effective, but they do have to trust you.
Trust requires consistency. We gain trust when we are consistent with our words and actions and we lose trust when we are not. It is as simple as that.
Have you ever been to a meeting where the leader asks if anyone has any questions followed by dead silence? Has this happened to you? This is an example of a situation where there is a lack of trust. The people don’t trust the person leading the meeting or they don’t trust the other people in the room. In either case, there is dysfunction.
It’s Easy to Lose Trust
One of the easiest ways to lose trust is to behave in an inconsistent manner. For example, say that you want people to come tell you when they think something is wrong, and then act in a way that clearly demonstrates that you do not want to hear bad news. Act like that and you won’t have to worry about hearing bad news until you get your pink slip.
Another way to behave inconsistently is to tell your folks that you’ll do something for them and don’t follow through. Outright lying to your people is another obvious way to lose trust.
It’s Easy to Build Trust
Build trust by consistently following through on your word – no matter how painful it might be. Apologize when you mess up, and be honest. Remember how fundamental trust is and how easy it is to lose. Keep those things in mind when you’re dealing with people, and you’ll find yourself acting in a way that earns trust, and you will reap all the benefits that come with that trust.
