“Without trust, we don’t truly collaborate; we merely coordinate or, at best, cooperate. It is trust that transforms a group of people into a team” – Stephen Covey
We have all worked in places where the team doesn’t trust the leader.
Where the leader doesn’t trust the team.
It rarely ends well.
So a critical component for any effective leader is the fostering of trust within their working environment.
Trust is the glue that binds the leader to her/his followers and provides the capacity for organizational and leadership success.
Alongside creating a more positive, dynamic and collaborative working environment a high level of trust in leaders has been shown to deliver higher job satisfaction and a greater commitment to the organization.
In “The Neuroscience of Trust” (2017) Professor Paul Zak wrote that:
Compared with people at low-trust companies, people at high-trust companies report:
74% less stress,
106% more energy at work,
50% higher productivity,
13% fewer sick days,
76% more engagement,
29% more satisfaction with their lives,
40% less burnout.
How do you develop trust?
Leading by example with Inclusivity and Authenticity at the core is a good start.
Providing your team with Autonomy, Context and Psychological Safety is equally so.
And of course it takes time.
It’s based on a consistency of behaviours and norms that enable you and your team to build the underlying principles of trust that help you negotiate future challenges together.
90 Things You Need To Know To Become an Effective CTO
