Nothing tops trust. From the brands you purchase to the leaders you follow, everything of value is built on trust. So why isn’t trust the number one factor we consider as business leaders?
In today’s episode, I’m joined by best-selling author and CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, David Horsager.
Following his highly-acclaimed book The Trust Edge, David recently released Trusted Leader: 8 Pillars That Drive Results. As a go-to expert on trust for leaders, David is here to share powerful insights that grow your impact.
1. Leaders lose clarity because of time and change.
The world is constantly changing and leaders need to adapt to those changes. Everyone could have more clarity at times. If a leader isn’t clear about the vision, they will face challenges getting others on board. If a manager isn’t clear about expectations, they won’t see the desired result. If salespeople aren’t clear about consumer benefits, customers will be less likely to buy their products.
Even if you have a hold on clarity, time and change can have an enormous impact. It’s vital to know when the changing environment around you could be affecting the clarity of your message. In this case, it’s important to restate your message early and often.
2. There is a difference between confidentiality and transparency.
Transparency shows authenticity. But sometimes, depending on the situation, you may need to be more confidential as a leader. Not everyone needs to know everything at all times – and there are good reasons for that. For example, kids can be transparent on social media, but that doesn’t mean they’re gaining trust.
Use your judgment to determine the right balance between the two. Sometimes you’ll need to be transparent and vulnerable, and sometimes you’ll need to prioritize confidentiality to build long-term trustworthiness.
3. Follow the 3-step process to clarity.
Ask these three questions: How? How? How? In other words, when looking for clarity, keep asking “how?” until you get to your actionable item – the thing you’re going to do tomorrow to get started.
Whether you’re asking a question like “How are we going to communicate?” or “How are we going to hold each other accountable?,” drilling into “how” gives us hope for our next steps and our ultimate goals. Regardless of the challenge, asking “how” can help you get down to the root of the issue and take practical steps.
Ready to start building more trust in your organization? Download David’s trusted leader masterclass by texting the phrase One Next Step to 31996 or visit onenextsteppodcast.com.
One more way to establish trust: focus on your top skills, and delegate day-to-day tasks to a certified professional. BELAY has over 2,000 U.S.-based professionals ready to help you with accounting, social media, and countless other tasks that can eat up your bandwidth. To learn more, schedule a free consultation with our team today.