How to Build Trust as A New Leader
There are many different components that come together to create an effective leader. Leaders are brave, inspirational, and innovative. They know how to respond well in a crisis, and they’re always on-hand to offer support and assistance when their teams need it most. However, of all the qualities that a leader can possess, few things are more important than the ability to access the trust of their employees.
No leader can convince their team to try new things, reach for new goals, and explore different avenues unless they have their trust first. Unfortunately, new leaders don’t automatically earn the trust of their team along with a new role or promotion. Here are a few ways that leaders can begin to build trust with their team and create a stronger company culture as a result.
Practice Open and Effective Communication
Trust comes from strong relationships between a leader and their team. These relationships can only begin to develop when a line of communication opens. The best leaders know that being an effective communicator means more than simply being able to say what they mean in a clear and concise way. Great communication also comes down to a leader’s ability to listen to their teams and respond to their concerns accordingly.
The best leaders pay attention to what their employees have to say, and they even go beyond verbal language to look at the non-verbal cues that their employees are sending out through their body language too.
Set People Up for Success
Leaders are often under a lot of pressure to accomplish great things, meet business targets and show that they’re having the right impact on the company. This pressure can mean that some leaders start to focus more on making themselves look good, than making sure that their teams have the tools and support they need to succeed in their roles.
The best leaders, on the other hand, put their teams first. They find out what their people need to do their best work and deliver it in any way that they can. This might mean implementing new technology in the workforce, learning how to delegate work more effectively, or simply implementing strategies that prevent team members from feeling overworked and overwhelmed. The right leaders also remember to praise their employees for the things they accomplish and celebrate their successes.
Be Honest and Transparent
Finally, honesty and trust are two concepts that go together naturally. Regardless of what leaders do in their business, they make sure that they’re always honest with their team. This might mean owning up to a mistake when something goes wrong or taking responsibility for a problem. Honest and transparent leaders also know that they can’t always tell their team what they want to hear – even if that would help them to make more friends.
Great leaders tell the truth, no matter how hard it is to hear – although they often try to deliver bad news positively. Additionally, they also expect the truth back from their teams and respond well to constructive criticism when necessary.
