Great Managers Earn Trust

One of the key ways to truly become a successful manager is to be trusted by your employees and your boss.

Trust is a funny thing. It’s not something you can just ask for, it’s not something you just get. Trust is something that must be EARNED.

When you hear the word trust who do you think of? Your spouse, your parents, your best friend, hopefully your business partner? Someone who is exceptionally close to you, who you can depend on no matter what? An individual in your life that has always been there for you? Someone who keeps your deepest, most treasured secrets. Someone you would hand over any of your most sacred belongings to and not worry for one moment that they are not in good hands. Sound about right?

Now, if you are an employee and have a boss or manager, do they fit that description? If you are a boss or a manager, would your employees say this about you? Would they confide in you or rely in you with their most intimate concerns? Most of the time the answer here is no.

There is a tremendous lack of trust in the workplace. This lack of trust is limiting your potential and slowing down your success. It’s undermining the goals of your company without you even realizing it.

So how do you gain someone’s trust as a manager?

Trust has to be earned. It’s the only way to get it. Here are three simple ways to earn your employee’s trust and build the relationship that will help to produce more success and a more cohesive work environment.

• Make an honest effort to get to know your employees as individuals. Who are your employees and what do they enjoy doing outside of the office? What is their family like? Who are the important people in their lives? By getting to really know the people who work for you, you are able to connect on a much deeper level. You demonstrate that you really care about them and who they are, not just about what they can bring to your company. They start to realize that you view them as an individual and not just part of the group. With knowledge about more intimate parts of their life, you can connect on a deeper level and prove your commitment to building a relationship with them.
• Show them who you are and what you believe in. Asking them to open up to you must be reciprocated with you opening up to them. Welcome them into your life and the things that are important to you. Tell them about your interests and what you do for fun. Demonstrate to them that you trust them enough to let them into your personal life as they have let you into theirs.
• Work side by side WITH your employees. Show them you are part of the team. Your success as a manager depends on how well your team or department does. Demonstrate to your employees that you are willing to put the effort in to help them and guide them to their desired goal. Stand beside them and honor what is created together.
• Never go back on your word. This is the most simple, but the most important of all. If you tell your employees you are going to do something, do it. If you promise them something, follow through. There might come a time where this can be hard but no matter what happens, a manger must always be honest and stand by his words and his actions. By doing so, you will earn the trust of the people who work for you and great success will be achieved.

When trust is completely earned, you gain the undivided commitment from your employees to strive and achieve the goals and success of the company. People work harder and take more educated risks to make huge strides in success when they know they have a manager standing behind them, supporting them. People desire to please others. When your employees trust you and know that you trust them in return, they will want to please you, continue to build the trust, and build more and more of your relationship.

I know that a lot of managers don’t think “becoming friends” with their employees is a good idea. Friendships can leave room for hard feelings and breakdowns in the chain of authority. I am not suggesting here to be friends. What I am suggesting though, is to build and cultivate a relationship that goes far beyond what is your typical manager and employee connection. Build something stronger and the effects of that relationship will far exceed the success you will achieve without it.

I challenge you to learn something new about your employees today. Tell them something about you. Make it fun. You’ll be surprised at what transpires.