Five tips to build Trust and Credibility with your Team

Every leader wants their organization to succeed, and trust is the most important quality to be able to achieve the desired success.

Let’s explore why it’s important.

A team that doesn’t trust their leader, will not be motivated to work towards the vision.

According to Henry Cloud, “Leadership is not taken, it is given. People give leadership to those that they trust. They allow people that they trust to have influence over their lives.”

According to an article in Harvard Business Review, in its 2016 global CEO survey, PwC reported that 55% of CEOs think that a lack of trust is a potential threat to their organization's growth. However, most CEOs feel clueless about how to build trust and credibility with their teams.

Let us explore how you, as a leader, can build trust and credibility with your team.

1. Create a safe environment: Neuroscience suggests that a brain chemical called oxytocin, signals how safe a person is to approach. If you, as a leader, create a safe environment and demonstrate approachability, your team members will trust you to share their challenges and share their ideas comfortably. It would increase overall team interaction, induce innovation, creative thinking and lead to overall elevated team success.

2. Be empathetic: Empathetic leaders are more likely to win their team’s trust because they are able to provide the emotional support that their team needs. They treat their co-workers as humans rather than treating them as result producing machine. Leaders with empathy are able to drive their teams to be more innovative, and that results in getting better ideas from their team.

3. Lead by example: Your actions speak louder than words. Your team is constantly observing what you do, not just listening to what you say. If you demonstrate honesty, integrity, and dedication, your team will be inspired to embody the same values.

Leading by example also means holding yourself accountable to the same standards you expect from others. If you expect punctuality, be on time. If you ask your team to meet deadlines, ensure you deliver on your commitments. When leaders practice what they preach, they send a clear message that they are not above the team, but a part of it. Moreover, transparency and fairness are key. If your team sees you making tough decisions with integrity, treating everyone with respect, and admitting mistakes when they happen, they will trust you more. Such authenticity fosters credibility, because people are more likely to follow someone who doesn’t just talk about values, but lives by them daily.

4. Appreciate your team members: According to a Gallup study, employees who receive great recognition are 20 times more likely to be engaged than employees who receive poor recognition. Another study found that 69% of employees would work harder if they sensed their efforts were appreciated.

Appreciation is one of the most important human needs. If you, as a leader, appreciate the good work of your team members, they will stay motivated and trust you more.

5.  Consistency and reliability: Be consistent in your words and actions. Follow through on your commitments and demonstrate reliability. When your team sees that you are consistent, they are more likely to trust what you say. It is because your team wants to ensure that they can count on you.

It is in the hands of the leader to build a high-trust organization where team members feel heard, valued, and free to innovate.

To be an effective leader, passionate about building a high-trust organization, reach out to us at

www.concordiasolutions.in

Email: concordia@zehaava.com

Phone: +91 80198 64400