Do Your People Trust You?

Trust is probably the most valuable commodity for any successful Leader – and is the most difficult thing to regain, if it’s lost. Despite that, the trust of those they lead is something a lot of powerful people seem not to value…at least, not before they’ve lost it…by which time it’s already too late!

Whether it’s an anecdote from your own life, a business relationship, a celebrity or a politician, I’m sure you can think of a few names when you ponder the impact of lost trust on someone’s success. Reputation – for individuals and for brands – is intrinsically linked to trust, and should be a priority in deciding how you lead your people…

…But How are Reputation and Trust Linked?

As pillars of Leadership, trust and reputation are interconnected; the reputation of your organisation – good or bad – is built on the credibility of your Leaders.

Traits like competence, consistency, integrity, reliability and clear communication are lynchpins in fostering that credibility – and strengthening it takes deliberate and continuous, deliberate effort. One thing that’s vital to remember is that you have to be in charge of your own narrative; after all – if you’re not telling your story, someone will…so what do you want that story to be?

Building trust with your people – and thus your own reputation as a trusted Leader – is entirely dependent on you…but how do you know you’re doing it right?

• Your reputation is your Foundation: A leader’s reputation is an accumulation of how you are perceived: your actions and behaviour, and how those are experienced by and impact others. Success means setting initial expectations, and reliably delivering on those promises with honesty and integrity
• Trust is the Outcome: Trust builds over time, and only when your leaders consistently demonstrate credibility, proving that your people can depend on you, and that you will always act in the best interests of the people in your team and the organisation
• The Cycle of Reinforcement: For any Leader to build trust they need a strong reputation for competence and integrity; modelling these traits consistently will reinforce your reputation, creating a ‘virtuous cycle’ that enhances your influence and effectiveness as a Leader, and as a team

How can you build your reputation as a Leader?

Leadership comes with a wealth of challenges – many of which might seem like very recent developments; today’s Leaders have to factor in challenges that former generations didn’t have to face, and which traditional Leadership models and organisational structures have no process or structure for.

The growth of ‘Cancel Culture’ and the power of social media shows just how quickly opinions can change, and how overwhelming the consequences of lost trust can be – in an era where any individual can be a brand, and celebrity or influencer culture dominates the world of advertising, the arena of public opinion has become a battlefield.

Trust and reputation aren’t just important for your customer base; they are vital for the culture and success of your own people. After all – if they don’t trust you (or, more specifically, don’t trust your Leaders) it’s very unlikely that you’ll secure their loyalty, their talents or the full potential of their performance, under your banner. Who we are – and what we believe or care about in our personal lives – is no longer something you can keep entirely separate from your professional life. Organisational values and mission statements can’t just be considered a box-ticking exercise – your Leaders need to understand that how you’re perceived, both as an individual and as a representative of your organisation, shapes everything.

Trust can be fragile – so how are you building it?