13.02.2024

SUCCESS TECHNIQUES: THE MOST IMPORTANT WEAPON IN THE LEADER'S ARSENAL

Today, being a true leader is more difficult but also more important than ever. In a world that is becoming increasingly volatile, complex and confusing, leaders are integral to creating the conditions in which workers can thrive and organizations can generate great results.

Trust is the key to this process. When people trust their leaders, it increases the likelihood that they will give their best at work, contribute to creating a positive company culture, and ultimately stay with the company instead of looking for fulfillment elsewhere elsewhere.

Fortunately, leaders can create trust in surprisingly easy ways.

Why trust matters

Although the importance of trust may seem more than obvious, many studies attempt to measure its real effect. One study found that employees at companies where trust is high boast 106% more energy in the office, 74% lower stress levels, 76% more engagement and 50% higher productivity, compared to those in low-trust organizations. Another study published in the Journal of Production Economics found that performance improves when people have higher levels of trust. When Slack researchers surveyed more than 10,000 desk workers around the world, they found that feeling trusted in the workplace had the biggest impact on employee productivity.

Be visible and accessible

One of the best ways for a leader to build trust is to be visible and approachable. You don't have to work 24/7, but when leaders are more accessible, it builds trust. A global Oracle survey of nearly 5,000 people found that when leaders are more visible and accessible, team members are more confident and perform better.

We all have a cognitive bias towards the people we know better - we tend to trust those we see more often and get along with better. Also, when a leader is more approachable, he sends a message that he cares about his team members and is always there when they need him.

Leaders can build trust by being visible both onsite and remotely—by maintaining regular contact and communication with team members, turning on their camera in virtual meetings, and making time for face-to-face conversations with their employees.

Be responsive

Another key way leaders generate trust is through responsiveness to team members. One study found that when leaders are receptive to people's questions, respond to team members, and make decisions effectively, people feel more confident that leaders will be there when employees need them. In addition, responsiveness usually also acts as an expression of respect and empathy, which causes employees to put in more effort and perform better.

Leaders can demonstrate responsiveness by checking in on how their employees are doing and asking if they need support, and by answering questions quickly and comprehensively. Leaders also need to be proactive—being aware of what's going on in the organization and helping others prepare for what might happen in the future.

Be consistent

An additional way leaders generate trust is by being consistent. Of course, leaders must adapt to changing market, customer, or organizational demands, as well as to the diverse needs of team members, but even with the necessary adjustments, people want to work with leaders who are predictable—especially in terms of of their values, motivation and character. Evidence for this can be found in compelling research published by the Academy of Management.

Researchers have found that stress decreases when bosses are more consistent. And people prefer a leader who exhibits bad behavior but does it predictably to a boss who reigns in chaos.

All possible types of trust

As you generate trust, you can also consider how people decide to trust. People tend to trust based on two streams of thought. In one, often called "cognitive trust," they make rational decisions based on the behavior they see. In the other, called "affective trust," they decide how much to trust someone based on how the person makes them feel.

The bottom line is that as a leader, you want to be available to your team members, responsive, and consistent in the way you behave. Leaders must also value team members and prioritize their needs. This ensures that you create a culture that makes employees feel respected, valued and supported.