Strong leadership can do many things in the workplace. One of the many benefits of strong leadership is how it helps overcome distrust and fosters a trust-based workplace environment.
While it would be fantastic to have instant trust and rapport with and among your team members, it’s not usually that simple. Building trust is a process that takes consistent practice and action. This is true not only in the workplace, but in every area of your life.
Here are five ways a leader can grow the building blocks of team trust:
# 1 – Be Transparent
Go beyond the surface and get personal with your employees and colleagues. It can be uncomfortable to be vulnerable in a work setting, but you will quickly see the benefits in your relationships and in team performance.
# 2 – Foster Relationships
Consistently show up and do the little things. The workplace should be a place where you got to know people, building trust and really becoming like a family. When employees feel like a number, they will quickly lose trust in the idea that they are valued. Get to know your employees and intentionally try to create bonds that last.
# 3 – Understand Your Differences
Personality and strength assessments are great tools to understand your people on a deeper level. Personality assessment will give you a clear idea of what makes a person tick, what causes them stress, and whether they make decisions based on their gut, head, or heart.
# 4 – Be Open to Sharing and Showing
It’s natural to hide or shy away from your faults and weaknesses. Try not to do this. Allow yourself to be vulnerable, showing others how you are actively working to get better. This will inspire others in the workplace to do the same, allowing everybody to help each other grow.
# 5 – Tell the Truth
As a leader, it’s easy to keep information to yourself believing that will keep your employees safe. If you want to be a strong leader who is transparent and vulnerable, you are going to have to bring the truth to light even when it’s hard. The truth isn’t always pretty but sharing the truth with your team will further strengthen relationships and create alignment in pursuit of collective goals.
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If you are interested in learning more about building trust in your organization. Please visit our consulting page and book a strategy session today!
Take the Enneagram test through Enneagram-certified consultants, then share the results with your team! They will be excited about what they will learn about one another. Chat with a consultant to learn more about this!
