“The glue that holds all relationships together – including the relationship between leader and the led – is trust, and trust is based on integrity.” – Brian Tracy.
Without a doubt, trust is the foundation of most successful organisations. Leaders who lead with integrity create a trusting environment and a culture where people feel safe taking risks, using their intuition and making mistakes. The result? A high performing team with stronger working relationships, effective communication, higher engagement, reduced stress and less burnout.
It’s win-win for everyone!
So how does a leader achieve this?
Be your authentic self
As a leader, you need to know what your core values are and how you wish to instil them in your business. If you stay true to your own values and recruit people who share those values with you, everyone is on the same page from the beginning. So often organisations make the mistake of hiring for skills and not values. In a worst-case scenario, this is like throwing a cat amongst the pigeons. The cat knows what they are doing, but it can be at the detriment of everyone around them. Instead, consider hiring people with values that resonate with you, your business and your team. Skills can be taught and developed, whereas values are engrained in who a person is.
Be aware of your own strengths and weaknesses, and don’t be afraid to share them with your team. In fact, sharing your weaknesses and vulnerabilities will encourage your employees to share theirs too. With this knowledge, your team can support one another and work collaboratively to get the best outcomes for everyone.
Be open and honest
Share important information with your employees, inform them of changes on the horizon and opportunities in the pipeline. No one likes to feel left in the dark, so why keep your employees there?
Similarly, asking for their opinions and input into the direction of the business will create a mutually beneficial feeling of synergy. Create regular opportunities for two-way feedback such as team meetings, anonymous surveys or following more formal processes.
Be fair
If you make a commitment, stick to it! Your word is your bond and the people who look to you for leadership will expect you to deliver on your promises, just as you expect them to. If you are flaky, forgetful and unreliable, your team will stop relying upon and trusting you.
Ensure that everyone feels seen, heard and valued. Resentment may quickly build if employees feel they are not being given the same opportunities to be heard, to learn and to develop as their colleagues. Seek out opportunities internally and externally for your employee’s self-development and encourage them to do the same. Everyone deserves the chance to shine.
Be available
As a leader, your often pushed and pulled from pillar to post without time in between to reenergize. So, this next tip might sound like adding yet another item to your to do list… however, it will pay dividends in the long run.
Have an open-door policy and make yourself available to team members who require your time. This doesn’t mean they can interrupt you whenever they like, quite the opposite – you can control when your door is open. For example, if your most productive time of the day is 8am to 12 noon then ensure that time is ring fenced just for you. When your productivity begins to drop around lunchtime, let it be known that you are available to chat if anyone wants to. Walk around the workplace and make yourself visible. A leader who makes time for others and takes an active interest in the people he/she works with builds trust naturally and nurtures a rapport that makes employees feel valued, important and ultimately happier in the workplace.