Trust Matters: Foundations for Strong Leadership
Self-Assessment: The Foundations of Trust
Please take a few moments to answer the following self-reflection questions. Where can you identify opportunities for personal growth in your leadership?
Do I prioritize the well-being of my team and provide active support when needed?
Do I approach interactions with empathy and compassion, contributing to a positive work environment?
Am I truthful in my communication and willing to admit and take responsibility for my mistakes?
Do I make decisions transparently and consistently uphold ethical standards?
Do I encourage open dialogue, value diverse perspectives, and remain open to feedback?
Am I proactive in sharing information to keep my team informed and engaged?
Do I reliably deliver on commitments and follow through on tasks to maintain dependability?
Do I demonstrate expertise, make sound decisions, and pursue continuous growth to lead my team effectively?
Remember, this self-assessment is just a starting point for understanding Trust as a leader. It's essential to reflect on your responses and actively work on areas where improvement is needed. Additionally, seeking feedback from others and working with your ECFL Leadership Coach can provide valuable insights into your emotional intelligence strengths and weaknesses.
“Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence.”
Trust is the cornerstone of good leadership, shaping how teams work together and whether they succeed or struggle. While trust doesn’t appear instantly, it can develop quickly when leaders are committed to consistent, intentional actions that demonstrate care, integrity, transparency, dependability, and expertise. With a solid foundation of trust, teams stay united, motivated, and ready to face challenges head-on. In this lesson, we’ll explore five key traits that help leaders build trust: benevolence, honesty, openness, reliability, and competence.
Here’s a quick look at each attribute:
Benevolence in leadership means showing empathy, compassion, and genuine concern for others' well-being.
Honesty is being truthful and transparent in all you do, including admitting mistakes or setbacks.
Openness involves sharing information freely, listening to feedback, and being open to new ideas.
Reliability means consistently following through on commitments, meeting deadlines, and keeping promises.
Competence is about having the skills and knowledge to perform tasks effectively and meet responsibilities.
By focusing on these attributes, you can build lasting trust that strengthens your leadership and team relationships.
Trust forms the foundation of strong leadership. Leaders who consistently display certain attributes can build and sustain trust over time. Let’s explore these core attributes in detail:
Benevolence
The word benevolence comes from the Latin term benevolentia, which means "good will" or "the disposition to do good." This concept transcends language and culture, representing a universal value admired worldwide. Acts of benevolence—like charity, volunteering, and community service—are universally celebrated. For leaders, benevolence means showing kindness and goodwill in words and actions. It’s about staying calm and empathetic in our daily lives, even during challenging times. Taking a moment to think before speaking can make a big difference in how interactions play out.
When leaders intentionally cultivate a culture of benevolence, it creates a powerful ripple effect throughout the organization. Employees begin to mirror this mindset, striving not just for individual success but for the greater good of the team and organization. According to research by The Kingsley Group, benevolence in the workplace strongly correlates with improved employee performance and engagement.
It all starts with the leader: their actions set the tone. When leaders demonstrate benevolence through empathy, fairness, and genuine concern, they inspire employees to follow suit, resulting in better outcomes and a positive work environment.
Honesty
Adding honesty to benevolence creates an even stronger foundation for trust. Honesty is more than just truth-telling—it’s about embracing transparency, openness, and integrity. An honest leader shares information openly, provides accurate updates, and isn’t afraid to admit mistakes. This approach builds credibility, giving team members confidence in both the leader and the information they share.
When leaders consistently demonstrate honesty, they set a powerful example that inspires their teams to uphold the same standard. This commitment to truthfulness establishes a culture of transparency and accountability, ensuring team members feel secure and valued. Over time, this culture becomes the foundation for strong, resilient teams built on mutual trust.
Reliability
Reliability is about maintaining consistency in your actions and behaviors. For leaders, this means being accountable, honoring commitments, meeting deadlines, and keeping promises. Reliable leaders are dependable in both predictable and unpredictable situations, whether times are good or challenging. When people trust that they can rely on their leader, they experience less stress, knowing they’ll receive steady support and guidance regardless of the circumstances.
Competence
Competence is the ability to perform tasks effectively and meet responsibilities. Equally important as other leadership attributes, competence reflects your capacity to deliver results—and deliver them well. Competent leaders possess the skills and knowledge necessary to guide themselves and their teams toward success. By consistently showcasing competence, leaders instill confidence in their teams, demonstrating they are both capable and informed. Moreover, competent leaders prioritize ongoing development, both for themselves and their teams, ensuring continuous learning, growth, and improvement.
“You Never Know Who’s Watching”
Shazam, a manufacturing company, had a thriving energy sales team, thanks in large part to a young salesperson named Pat. Pat was close to a major sales milestone, with $98 million in new orders, and was sure he'd earn a promotion. The Senior Vice President, Kerri, was visiting to celebrate the team’s success, distribute bonuses, and announce the promotion.
During a team lunch at a golf course, Pat found himself chatting with Kerri in line. As they moved through the buffet, Pat discreetly hid an extra salad dressing under his plate to avoid paying for it. It was a small act, but one that Kerri noticed.
After lunch, when Kerri announced the promotion, Pat was shocked to learn it went to Madeline, another top performer with $77 million in sales. Later, Pat met with his manager to understand why. His manager explained that honesty was essential to Shazam’s values, and Kerri’s observation of the $0.50 dressing incident had raised concerns about Pat’s integrity. In Shazam, honesty was non-negotiable—it was the foundation of their success.
Lesson from this story:
It's the small, consistent actions that build trust in a relationship; remember, people are always observing your behavior.
Integrity, the choice between what’s convenient and what’s right.
“In all my public and private acts as your president, I expect to follow my instincts of openness and candor with full confidence that honesty is always the best policy in the end.”
Building trust as a leader requires not only understanding these core attributes but also actively applying them in daily interactions with your team. The following best practices are practical steps that align with each attribute and can help you cultivate a trustworthy leadership style. By integrating these practices into your routine, you reinforce the principles of benevolence, honesty, openness, reliability, and competence, thereby strengthening trust within your team.
Best Practices for Building Trust as a Leader:
Demonstrate Benevolence: Showing genuine empathy and concern for your team builds a foundation of trust and respect. When leaders practice benevolence, it encourages open communication and fosters a supportive environment. This approach makes team members feel valued and secure, strengthening their commitment and morale. Take time each week to check in individually with team members, asking how they’re doing both personally and professionally.
Practice Honesty: Being transparent and truthful with your team, even when addressing challenges or mistakes, sets a standard of integrity. When leaders admit their own errors and share information openly, it creates a culture where everyone feels safe to do the same. Honesty builds credibility and reinforces trust over time. When a project hits an obstacle, communicate the issue clearly to your team and outline your plan for addressing it, inviting input where appropriate.
Cultivate Openness: Openness involves more than just sharing information; it’s about being receptive to feedback and different perspectives. Leaders who value openness signal that every voice matters, encouraging collaboration and innovation. This practice deepens trust by making team members feel heard and respected. Host regular feedback sessions where team members can voice their thoughts and concerns without judgment.
Be Reliable: Reliability is shown through consistent actions, meeting deadlines, and keeping promises. Leaders who demonstrate reliability create a stable environment where their team can feel confident in their leadership. This reduces stress and enhances trust, as people know they can depend on their leader's follow-through. Document commitments and set reminders to ensure you consistently meet your deadlines and fulfill promises made to the team.
Develop Competence: Competence proves that you have the skills and knowledge to guide the team effectively. Leaders who invest in their own development and that of their team show they are committed to continuous improvement. This reassures team members of the leader’s capability and builds trust through demonstrated expertise. Set aside time each month to engage in professional development, whether through courses, workshops, or learning alongside your team.
Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership. By embodying benevolence, honesty, openness, reliability, and competence, leaders can foster strong, trusting relationships with their teams. These best practices, when applied consistently, strengthen trust within the team and support a collaborative and transparent work environment. As a leader, your commitment to these principles will create a positive and productive work environment where team members feel valued, motivated, and empowered to overcome challenges together.
To push your understanding of the Foundations of Trust to the next level, explore these valuable resources. They’ll help expand your skills and provide essential tools for building strong leadership.
The Power of Reliability: A Pillar of Trust and Success
Jim Iyoob
Trusted Leaders Practice Transparency in These 5 Ways
Scott Mautz
3 Strategies for Leading Through Difficult Times
Rasmus Hougaard, Jacqueline Carter, and Rob Stembridge