Why Should I Believe You?
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rust in the workplace, trust in leadership, and connecting with others were the key phrases I found in a recent online search for “best selling business books.” It's a sign of the times. A lack of leadership and trustworthiness in the workplace appears to be the norm. Leadership is something that everyone in the workplace can practice — not just CEOs and business owners. Communicating trustworthiness starts with honest intention and self-awareness. Additionally, you can not be an effective communicator or leader if you do not provoke trust in others. Here are five strategies for developing leadership and establishing trust: 1. Tell the truth. Easy to say — difficult to practice. Yet truth is what your customers, coworkers, employees, shareholders, and vendors want from you. Whether it is late deliveries, quality problems, or low earnings, you need to be honest about it. Most people CAN handle the truth. Truth requires no managing or memorization. Tell the truth — it's easier. 2. Take forward action. Leadership means evaluating the available information and moving onward. The best leaders make difficult and timely decisions with about 70 to 80 percent of 43
the information. You may never get all the details, and waiting to act may result in tragedy. Evaluate and be proactive. 3. Do what you say you are going to do. Okay, this may be a combination of the first two strategies, but it bears its own heading. Both actions and inactions influence others. If you promise to return a call, handle a matter, or show up on time, follow through. 4. Be consistent. Leadership requires consistency in behavior, mood, and language both at home and at work. Nothing kills trust like incongruence between what you do and say to one person and what you do and say to another. Treat the fast food server the same as the CEO of an organization. 5. Be the example. Model what you expect from others. Don't ask others to do something you wouldn't do. Trust is developed when you live according to your ethics. Leaders appear at every level of an organization from the support team to sales to the CEO. Communicating leadership requires an inner confidence and an outer personality that can convey that confidence to others through words and actions. Many leaders possess the selfconfidence to perform tasks and reach goals, but lack the ability to connect with people. Leadership and trustworthiness are earned through communication, not just results.
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