Which leader are you? Which leader would you want to work for?
- A leader was well-known by his employees for spending money on his own personal interests. As a result, there were no pay increases, and bonuses were infrequent and minor. Finally, when the leader sold the business and stayed, the employees demanded that he be fired. “We couldn’t trust him as our leader, and we don’t trust him as a team member.”
- Another leader led his employees without allowing his ego to get in the way. He also pursued self-interests, but not at the expense of his employees. He hired right and made sure they had the tools and resources needed. He made himself available to guide them through making decisions, resolving conflicts, and handling sticky situations. His employees trusted him.
During these past several years, employees have stopped trusting their leaders to do the right things the right way. While many people like to blame the economy, pandemic, and other outside factors, the truth is that these leaders do not talk straight, renege on promises, and hire and promote people that don’t fit their jobs.
As a leader, you must regain your employees’ trust NOW. The longer you wait, the harder it will become; eventually, trust can never be regained.
Here Are Three Ways to Regain Trust
Talk Straight. Instead of talking around an issue or subject, tell the truth.
- Talk directly with the employee to provide performance feedback and coaching.
- Expect resolutions to conflicts and be proactive in getting them resolved.
- Value relationships by talking straight while being kind and compassionate.
- Straight talk does not mean unleashing your anger or upset on another person.
- Stop waffling around decisions. Make them fact-based, and include relevant human factors that are consistent with company values. This includes win-win-win outcomes for the customer, employee, and company.
Make Promises and Keep Them. Level up your ability to listen and listen to yourself when speaking. Too many leaders don’t listen well (or at all) or remember their promises. When making an agreement, write it down! Send an email … This is my understanding … Be open to negotiations within reason. Remember, respect, valuing others, and integrity are non-negotiable.
Hire and Promote for Job Fit. One of the most significant and often unrecognized issues that cause employees to stop trusting their leaders. When leaders hire using the instinctive/intuitive/gut approach, it doesn’t work (and never did). Many exhausted employees hate the constant turnover of new employees that cannot and will not do the job. Then, having their leader/boss manipulate them to “keep at it” and “make it work” upsets them and no longer works. You cannot force a square peg into a round hole! Instead, design a well-thought-out strategic selection process. Use qualified assessments that ensure job fit and tools to safeguard safety and well-being.
©Jeannette Seibly 2022 All Rights Reserved
Jeannette Seibly is The Leadership Results Coach. She’s celebrating 30 years as an award-winning international executive consultant, speaker, and coach. Her clients value the listening and positive difference she brings to any conversation. Feel stuck in a sticky situation or in challenging relationships? Want straightforward counsel to blast through it? Contact Jeannette for a confidential discussion. PS: She’s also a three-time Amazon Best-Selling Author!
A note from Jeannette about regaining trust as a leader: During these past several years, employees have stopped trusting their leaders to do the right things the right way. Now is the time to transform this belief before another year goes by. Are you uncertain about what to do? Do you need to talk it out? Contact me for a confidential conversation.
When was the last time you got honest about your leadership issues? Many employees today do not trust their bosses and leaders. Many leaders believe they already understand their blind spots. But they fail to get objective data to help them do the right things correctly. It’s essential to get actual objective data to improve your leadership. Click here for details.