Building Trust and Respect
Andrea Wright I Published on Date
Building trust and respect is central part of being a successful leader. As leaders at any level we must take the time to build a foundation of trust and respect with everyone we work with. It's not enough to just think of oneself as a leader and expect people to trust and respect you - they must be earned. You must demonstrate your trustworthiness and show that you're worthy of respect in order for people to invest their faith in you.
Here are three things you can do to start building that foundation:
ONE
Listen Actively
Active listening is paying attention, not interrupting, and asking questions to show you're engaged in the conversation. Active listening shows that you value what the other person has to say, helps foster a deeper understanding of the other person's thoughts and feelings, and it helps create an open environment where both parties feel comfortable expressing themselves. It is an essential skill for building relationships and gaining insights that lead to stronger connections. By using your active listening skills to show you're engaged in the conversation, you will build respect and trust with others. With active listening, everyone wins!
TWO
Keep Your Word
Following through on promises and commitments not only helps build trust but also shows respect for the other person's time and expectations. When you make a promise to someone, they will be expecting you to keep it. If you fail to do so, it can damage the trust that person has in you and make them less likely to believe future promises.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as planned and sometimes we have to make changes to our commitments or promises. In these cases, it is important to communicate promptly and apologize if required. Doing so will ensure that the trust you have built with others remains intact and helps foster healthy relationships.
“You are what you do. Not what you say you’ll do.”
Three
Show Empathy
Putting yourself in someone else's shoes (empathy) is a powerful tool to build trust and respect with others by showing that you care about how they feel. It is important to recognize the feelings of others, understand their perspectives, and respond in a way that conveys genuine care and concern. When we show empathy towards someone, we are sending the message that we value them as an individual and are willing to listen to their thoughts and opinions. This can help foster an environment of understanding, respect, and collaboration between people. By showing empathy, we can build stronger relationships based on trust and respect.
Definition of Empathy: Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. It involves being able to recognize emotions in others, as well as being able to express your own emotions effectively.
Trust and respect are two sides of the same coin in a leaders relationships with others. Building trust requires understanding the needs of others, being consistent in behavior, and having open communication. Respect requires treating others with dignity and listening to their opinions. Using the three skills above helps leaders build both trust and respect among their team members and creates a positive work environment for all. When people trust you, they are more likely to open up and share their thoughts and feelings with you. They will also be more likely to follow your advice or direction when it comes to making decisions. Having people trust you is essential for successful leadership. It is the foundation of any team and organization.
