Preparing with Purpose: Part 3

Do Your People Trust You?

In this video excerpt from his Leadercast Live presentation to 100,000 people around the world, leadership expert and best-selling author, Dr. Henry Cloud, explains that true influence is built upon a foundation of trust. “It goes beyond being true to your word,” says Henry.  “Employees need to trust that their leaders will treat them respectfully, act with integrity, and compensate them fairly.”

Conversely, if employees lose trust in their leadership, the entire organization suffers. In fact, organizations will cease to exist without trust from the community, partners, leaders, employees, customers, or members. And no matter how long you build and maintain trust, it can be destroyed by a single action.

Have you ever assessed how your actions and behaviors build or break down trust among your family, friends and colleagues? Do the people around you see you as authentically reliable, dependable and respectful? Very few followers exhibit loyalty without first establishing trust with their leaders.

Building, nurturing and maintaining trust in all organizational relationships is essential as a guiding life and leadership principle. When organizational leaders establish trust, they foster more authentic communication and loyalty among team members, colleagues, stakeholders, customers, and followers. It takes time, intention and transparency to build trust; consider starting with this next steps:

• Take a personal inventory regarding how reliable, respectful and dependable you are on a daily basis. Look over the past year and write down those times when you feel your were at your most authentic and respectful. Now write down any times when you felt you could have behaved with more integrity.
• If you’re willing and open to feedback, to ask your colleagues and/or those you lead for input regarding the trust they have in you.  Listen and offer thanks for their respectful honesty.