Building the Trust in Your People - 12 Easy Tips
By Martin Haworth |
Building trust with those you work with, especially if you manage them, is
vital. There are a few things that are vital that you get clear on - they are
not challenging, but they are important and will require that you stick to these
rules - or run the risk of damaging the relationships that you work so hard to
create...
In Stephen Covey's great book, "The Seven Habits of
Highly Effective People", he talks about the 'emotional bank account', where
you have to build a credit in your relationship with the individuals who you
work with (and everyone else as well!).
If what you do isn't
'trustworthy', then all you have done in your gentle listening and asking great
and interested questions to build, is to 'debit' your account. And if you do
more of this than the credit you build, then you will never get your folks on
your side. But what is trust?
You can't invest more wisely than by
listening fully to what interests the person you are in conversation with. So,
ask more questions about what they tell you. Easy as that - it’s a simple tool,
but really builds trust too. Here are a few other things which generate their
trust in you:-
- Tell the truth
Sounds simple, yet often it is done without
thinking. On busy days what you say does get taken in, yet you forget. Don't!
People hang on what you say - so it must be the truth!
- Keep promises (or don’t make them)
A biggy this. What you say
holds a far greater importance to the person you say it to than maybe
you, who say so much stuff all day long. If you say you will do something for
someone, then do it - or don't say you will.
- Follow through on what you say you will do
And separate from
promises. Actions. Your people look on you to facilitate their delivery of the
business. You can smooth things out, make things happen, provide resources. So
if you say you are going to fix things, then please do it! Hey, even
more, do a little more!
- Don’t be interrupted – give yourself fully in a
conversation
When you are talking with your people make sure you give
them full attention and the courtesy of enough time. Put them first not second
(or even third). Switch your phone or pager off. Put off other
interruptions.
- Be fair to all
By ensuring that you treat all of your people
the same, you will build their trust hugely. It is a sense of sharing and caring
that comes from everyone, even you, being equal in an emotional sense, so
building a common bond.
- Have no favourites
You need to be disciplined enough that you
have no closer 'friends' than everyone. If you treat some people more 'equally'
than others, it sure gets noticed, creates divisions and loses that pulling
together which you need.
- Be consistent
Your folks get twitchy if you are erratic in
your behaviour and attitudes. By modifying your behaviours to be consistent (and
if you aren't have someone tell you).
- Stick to your own rules – model behaviours
And in the thing
about consistency and fairness and no favourites, remember you. You cannot be
different. You cannot afford to behave in a way that shows favouritism to
yourself.
- Understand mistakes and help others learn and not be
afraid
Your people who you want onside need to be nurtured and cared
for. Encouraged and engaged. It needs you to be able to relieve their fear of
getting things wrong. Your people can make mistakes. It's OK! Then
you will get them experimenting and trying stuff - all of which will be
generating great solutions. Let them!
- Realise what’s important to others may not be apparent
People
always have things which are important to them - and it isn't always their work!
So find out what it is and honour that - it builds their trust in you, because
you value them.
- Face people with issues rather than tell others
If you have
issues or problems with people, be honest with them and let them know. It's
about what they do and not about them as people - but be honest enough to work
with them and not talk about them behind their back
- Let go sometimes – trust them to do their best
Your people try
their best - by acknowledging them for this, they will trust you more and
more.
Building trust is not only the most valuable thing that you can do
with your people, but it is the most important thing that you must
do.
About the Author
© 2005
Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, with
small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints,
tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com
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