I happen to love baking apple pies. Through the years I have experimented with many different piecrust recipes, some containing butter and some containing shortening. Not all recipes lead to tasty piecrusts so I have learned to trust my past baking strategies and only incorporate a new ingredient if it aligns with my past successes.
Learning to be a trustworthy leader is similar to baking an apple pie. We need to take a hard look at what goes into being trustworthy and identify the core elements that make it work. We also need to look at the trustworthy leaders we have worked with and how they were able to gain our trust.
FIVE INGREDIENTS TO BECOMING TRUSTWORTHY:
1. Follow Through Like A Football Pass
Similar to an athlete being counted on to complete a strategic play, leaders too need to be reliable and accountable. If we make a commitment to our team members or people we are collaborating with, then we need to make it happen. If we want to be offered higher level assignments and projects, we must prove we will come through. The interesting part of being known as dependable is that we are actually building relationships and our reputation.
2. Highlight The Mistakes
We all mess up from time to time but what differentiates those of us who have built up credit with others is that we are willing to say we made a mistake.
- Tell others that an error was made early on
- Find a solution to rectify the mistake either by researching a new approach or by asking team members for their ideas
- Share lessons learned so others can avoid the same misstep
- Encourage the people we work with to be open about their mistakes by being understanding
3. Talk Straight
The way we communicate with people is key to how they relate to us. When we are honest with our feedback, respectful of their perspectives and speak with clear language, we will be more trustworthy. I had a manager in one of my leadership workshops who felt he should withhold information that people on his team didn’t need to have. After asking him why, he realized that by not sharing all the facts, it was impossible for transparency and real creative problem solving.
[Tweet “Leaders share all the facts to create transparency and trust.”]
4. Listen For The Train Horn
According to Stephen M.R. Covey in his notable book, “The Speed Of Trust”, when we take time to really listen to someone first and get all the information, we not only build up trust with others, but the issues get resolved in a quicker and mutually respectful way. Covey poses these questions about listening to establish trust:
- Have I really listened to the other person?
- Do I really understand how he or she feels?
- Think back to a time when you didn’t listen first. What were the results? What would have been the results if I had listened differently?
5. Give Credit And Recognition
Have you ever worked with someone who took all the credit for a joint project? I was coaching a manager who felt so betrayed when she was not recognized for her contributions. She felt she was not a valued team member and lost trust with her boss. I also had a manager in one of my workshops who felt just the opposite- acknowledged for his outstanding work. He was so appreciative to be given credit for his hard efforts and results and looked forward to future assignments. That is building trust.
[Tweet “Leaders give credit freely.”]
What does a trustworthy leader look like to you? How have you shown you are trustworthy?
Your analogy has me thinking! I’ve worked with people who don’t realize that they’ve come to their leadership style much like you’ve learned to make the perfect apple pie… they’ve tried different approaches and learned what works. That can be really hard to do consciously. When you find something that works, it’s tempting to stick with it for the long haul instead of folding in other ingredients.
I often help craft experiments – change this… what happened? Not the expected result… go back and try something else. With trustworthiness,the more you trust, the more vulnerable you allow yourself to become, the stronger your bonds grow.
Thanks, Terri!
~ Alli
Great point Alli that when leaders need to embrace new skills they are sometimes not open and stick with what has been successful in the past. We each do come to our leadership style in unique ways that align with our personality and skill set. Just as I keep improving and updating my apple pie recipes, so too must leaders keep open minded and try new experiences to grow their leadership.
We need to trust ourselves and develop trustworthy connections to be the strongest leaders we can. That usually involves follow-through and care for others.
Thanks Alli!
Love your list, Terri Klass!
I’ve also found that consistency is an important trait in leaders…when people are not consistent with their message, it leaves me frustrated and wondering if they are truly committed to the project.
I agree that consistency is another key element of cultivating trustworthiness in leaders. People will trust leaders who are dependable and reliable and not constantly changing their perspectives. Leaders must take action and make decisions based on their core values as well as the values of an organization.
Thanks LaRae for your great additions!
Terri, one of my favorite topics. I would add vulnerability. Leaders build trust when they aren’t afraid to let people see their imperfections.
That’s so important Karin for leaders to show all their sides. By sharing their mistakes, mistakes and challenges, leaders do cultivate trust and it displays the human side of leading.
Thanks Karin for your great comments!
You had me at apple pie! I love to make them too! 🙂
Great post Terri! Every single point resonates with my experiences as well!
It’s interesting to me to see how often consistency was highlighted in the comments, as my expat experience continues to highlight what happens when leaders/systems aren’t consistent. At the same time I fully recognize that one of my greatest personal struggles has been learning to be consistent in building healthy routines for my life.
So as I teach it – I examine how I’m doing as well!
Being consistent is critical for developing trust. It can be challenging to figure out ways of adding consistency when we are busy and frazzled in our jobs and daily lives. I find that that building in routines that are meaningful and manageable can be helpful. These routines can eventually turn into habits that become part of us.
Thanks Chery for sharing your personal story and just keep trying ways to make healthy living your mantra. I appreciate your insights as always!