There are a hundred and one different sorts of leader out in the world – more than that – of course! Some are better than others and there are many different ways to achieve success.
There are the hard driving leaders who will stop at nothing to get the results they want from their team. This is often very efficient in the short-term for it thrives on fear, and does not do well over time.
For longer-term, sustainable and generative success, there are the emotionally intelligent savvy leaders, who appeal more broadly to their people – as people. They create rapport and over the longer-term, trust, thereby developing relationships that maximise partnership and synergies where the most valuable opportunities lie.
With all successful leaders, there is a single trait that will define their ability to draw success from people. A single quality in the relationship that will decide whether they create those alliances with individual employees to deliver exceptional results.
Trust is a much-discussed quality that is well demonstrated by the best leaders, but achieving trust with people you relate to is challenging to develop and even more difficult to maintain.
In an inexhaustive – yet efficient list – here are the 12 most important measures of trust that need to be consistently applied to each and every relationship you have. This is not just with the people who matter to deliver your results as a team, but also appears in the way you are with everyone. It is about the values and standards by which you live your life throughout. There are no short measures here.
- Do what you say you will – keep promises; follow up
- Be consistent – chopping and changing causes fear; doubt and closed mindsets
- Treat everyone equally – have no favourites; set standards for all including you
- Walk your talk – be the model for the qualities you expect from your people
- Be humble – accept your failings; be imperfect; appreciate that others are better than you
- Make mistakes – and share them with your people
- Ask for help – to show you value others’ capabilities and that you aren’t infallible
- Acknowledge success – give praise to those who deserve it and shout it loud
- Treat all with respect – poor performance is about the behaviour, not the person
- Be accountable – as leader, the buck stops with you. Don’t try to blame others
- Accept feedback – graciously and thankfully, to show that you are learning still
- Be honest – in your dealings with everyone
When you show that you are able to deliver on each of these simple steps, you will be much more likely to be trusted by those you care for, in your teams; with your clients and in your personal life too. Be less than this and your life will be more challenging because others will not go the extra mile for you.
There are other spin-offs too. The morale and motivation of your people will grow. They will stay with you longer; they will take less time off sick. They will be on your side more often. They will like and respect you.
Trust takes time to create and maintain, but beware, fall short in any one of these – even for a moment – and it might take you years to recreate.
