“He who does not trust enough, will not be trusted.”
-Lao Tzu
It’s important to gain your customer’s trust but it’s just as important to gain the trust of your team members. Having the complete trust of your team means no more second-guessing and things get done in a timely manner. Imagine running a company where the staff does not have confidence in the management. Forget about meeting deadlines as the team will constantly question the management. Teamwork just becomes a buzzword as the team members work on their own because they feel that they can’t rely on anybody. The leaders also become less transparent as they feel that the team cannot be trusted with company information. It’s chaos and the perfect recipe for failure. It’s a nightmare and if you want to avoid this nightmare, start trusting and in turn gain trust.
A company’s trust level affects both the tangible and intangible aspects of the business. According to this study, employees at high-trust companies experience 74% less stress and 50% higher productivity. It makes sense if you think about it. The less stressed an employee is, the more energy he or she has which in turn translates to being more productive. As a leader and entrepreneur, ensure that you have a solid foundation by building trust.
Be The Role Model
“A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts.”
-Harold MacMillan
Trust is a two-way street. How can you expect to gain the trust of your team if you don’t give them your trust? Be the role model. Set the standard for others to follow. Show them the level of trust you are willing to give them and they will respond in kind.
Building Trust Is Hard
“Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerability. Be transparent with your team, even when the truth may be unpopular or inconvenient.”
-Bill George
Showing our vulnerabilities goes against our basic human instincts. Telling your team bad news is uncomfortable. What I’m saying is that building trust is hard. It’s not convenient and sometimes, it can even be uncomfortable. Do you know what else is hard and uncomfortable? The path to success. The sooner you understand that this is just part of the process, the more comfortable you will be with trusting your team.
Be Accessible
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”
-Bryant McGill
Be more accessible to your team. When your employees can easily get in touch with you to talk about workplace issues, you are building a strong foundation of trust. It also strengthens the line of communication between the leadership and the teams, which can result in the organisation being more efficient and productive.