As a new team leader, it can be difficult to get your team to trust you. You have no history, and people do not know if they can rely on you and what you say.
However, if you set out the relationship the right way, you can create trust slowly. And, if you’ve faltered a bit in your trustworthiness, you can utilize the fundamentals of trust-building to recover your credibility, and move forward.
No matter what brings you to need to create trust, it’s vital that you take on the challenge.
When you have trust, you have the basis of building a high executing team. Without it, people will not accept your leadership, and they’ll invest so much time covering their backs that you’ll find it complicated to get whatever done.
If people do not trust you, no amount of team building or appreciation will motivate people to work together well. Without trust there is no “we”, and with no “we” there is no team.
To develop a high executing team you have to endorse yourself trustworthy. Your team must believe in you as any individual and as a leader. From there, they’ll work difficult to get the job done, for the reason that they know that you will not lead them astray.
Here are a few steps you can take to become a trustworthy leader.
Start with Self-Disclosure
People trust people that they know and comprehend. As a team leader you cannot afford to be mysterious.
When you first set out with a team, keep in mind that you share your environment with your co-workers. More than that, share who you surely are. develop a mini-bio that reveals something more than your work persona.
The better that people get to know each other, the easier it is to trust one another. People are curious by nature, and if you do not give them information, they’ll fill in the blanks for themselves. The judgments that people make about you can become “facts” to them.
Thwart fake assumptions upfront by encouraging people to share information about themselves. And take a lead by sharing yours first!
Make sure, too, that you have enough opportunities for you and your team to socialize and get to know one another. even though your goal is to work, your work will be much more efficient if you make time for fun too.
Tip:
As new people join your team and organization, consider circulating a short bio of them. Include facts and information that will help their colleagues relate to them better. keep in mind that you have the bio authorized by the incoming worker before sending it out, though!
Do What You Say and Say What You Do
Here, you should only make promises that you can keep. The surest alternative to lose trust is to go back on your word. When you fail to follow by means of, you cause disappointment and frustration.
When you’re not sure if you can deliver something, tell so. Your sincerity is much more crucial than your prowess. People would much rather go after the person that they can trust, compared with any individual who boasts about what he or she can do.
When you come to a commitment, take full task for seeing it by means of. This might mean saying “no” to a few requests. That’s okay, for the reason that it’s better than under delivering on a promise. keep in mind that you know what you’re skilled of, and what your restrictions are, before committing to whatever.
Tip:
When you first join a team, a great alternative to build trust is to accomplish a rapid win. keep in mind that your triumph is related and significant, and remember to share credit where credit is due. (However, be careful that you do not fall flat on your face with this first, high profile project!)
Clear communication is linked to this concept of doing what you tell. When you keep your team informed, you send an understandable message that you trust them. Trust goes in both directions, and when you give trust, you get it back even more so.
Be a Role Model
When it comes to trust, people answer to those who inspire them. We trust people who consistently prove high-quality habits. These include:
Honesty – only speak the truth, and practice transparency.
Integrity – decide a solid moral code and use it unfailingly.
Respect – never ask any individual to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.
Loyalty – stand behind your people, and your choices.
Fairness – apply similar standards, decisions and expectations to all members of your team.
Authenticity – be yourself. If you try to “fake it” you’ll be observed eventually. In the meantime, there will systematically be something “not quite right” about you. Getting trust from others starts with a company belief in the person you are.
Tip:
If you’re a newly-appointed manager or team leader, be a model of respectful pattern right from the set out. remain away from unflattering assumptions or judgments about your predecessor.
Also, do not come in prepared to change everything: what worked in your last team or organization may not work here. This team and its preceding leader worked difficult to establish their systems and habits – respect their work, and keep in mind that you work with your new team, not contrary it, to set your relationship on the right track.
Be Accountable irrespective
Take ownership of your actions and choices. This is easy when things are going well. When something goes wrong, even if, do not look to lay blame or find a scapegoat. A trustworthy leader steps up and accepts task.
It’s a good idea to encourage this level of accountability in every member of the team. keep in mind that everyone is clear what’s expected of them by agreeing a team charter, by putting up and delivering regular performance appraisals , and by giving feedback often. When the individuals in a team are all clear that they cannot hide behind the team, you’ll set out to get trustworthy pattern from everyone.
Tip:
Remember to trust your team members too. stay away from micromanaging and over-controlling habits. When your team realizes that you trust them, they’re more probable to trust you.
Be Present
In order to trust you, your team requires to know that you’re there for them.
- Listen to your people, and surely hear what they are saying. if you do not understand a trouble or a circumstance, keep asking questions until you do.
- Step out from behind email and memos. Meet with individual members of your team frequently. dialogue to them in person, and one-on-one, ideally every week. Use Management by Wandering Around to keep involved on a less-formal basis.
- Give plenty of praise and encouragement. keep in mind that your team realizes how much you appreciate what they do daily.
- Use body language successfully to ensure that you do not imply things that you do not mean.
Tip:
Find out what motivates individuals on your team. Learn what they think is working well, and what requires fixing. When your people feel that you genuinely care, they will trust that you have their absolute interests in mind.
Give Credit
To create trust, concentrate on building your people’s profile, not your own. When your team enjoys a win, permit them share in the credit and glory. Take a back seat, and give your people their time to shine.
Remember that an amazing leader is a humble leader. If you’re in the role for the right factors, then knowing that you did an amazing job, and permitting your team to reap their rewards, is all the reward that you require for yourself.
Establish Credibility
When you first set out with a new team, individual members of the team will know much more about their employments, the organization, and the circumstance, than you do.
Have the humility to learn what people do, and figure out how they do it. Discover from them what works, and what does not, and repair problems for people where you can. Learn as much as you can, as rapidly as you can, and you’ll soon decide credibility and respect.
Key Points
Gaining your team’s trust starts and ends with you. You have to behave in a trustworthy way right from the set out, and do so in all of your dealings with your team. Being selfless, and adopting a true team mentality are the foundations of building team trust, together with sharing who you are, making it clear what you stand for – and then “walking this talk” on a every day basis.
A well-known leader is one who’s confident in his or her capabilities, and who does not need too numerous accolades from others. When you’re comfortable with yourself, it’s simple to step back and enable others to shine. This is the pattern that absolute signals that trust is alive and well in your team.