Trust is the basis of all relationships

Recent research exploring the state of trust, leadership, and collaboration inside companies worldwide found a strong correlation between financial health and the leadership culture and behaviours in organisations. In short, employee trust has a "profound impact on business results and performance." Companies adept at practices that reinforce strong leadership, trust, and collaboration enjoy better financial performance.

But honestly, where do you find the time to nurture and support your workers while still running a demanding business?

Good news
Luckily, strengthening employee confidence in you is more about regular, “small” actions, rather than time-consuming sweeping changes. Just as employees are watching your every move and notice everything, be sure to pick up on their subtle hints to open up communication.

Me time
First of all, to recognise employees’ subtleties, you need to know nuances. How often have you been surprised by how different an employee seems in person compared to their behaviour in a group? The same can be applied reciprocally. Spending some one-on-one time with the members of your staff gives you the chance to interact on a human level.

Consistency is key
Positive reinforcement of the company's values is not just for team building events and year-end functions. As the leader, you need to be an example of the attitude and work ethic you want to see in your team. Employees notice inconsistency, remember it, and label it as inauthenticity.

Listen
Joining the two points above, brace yourself to take cognisance of employee feedback and criticism. No matter how severe you may think it is, being open to others’ points of view allows you to develop and make positive changes to your management style.

Be accountable
Duh!? Well, as much as you need your team to be accountable, don’t let it escalate to the point where individual employees get blamed for department or company-wide mistakes – sure-fire way to lose credibility. And, of course, you need to acknowledge your shortcomings, take ownership of your mistakes, and show (by example) how to move forward from inevitable errors.

By leading a team through example, rather than based on authority, business owners and managers develop team confidence and earn the respect of employees. Sharing information on how individuals will benefit from the team's success fosters greater buy-in, natural accountability, and collaboration – all leading to better financial results.

For more information on how you can turn your business around, contact me for a free initial  coaching consultation.
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