“Leadership trust creates the stable foundation for employees and their organizations to flex, adapt, and thrive in times of continuous change.” ~ Center for Creative Leadership (June 15, 2024)
In some concerning research, the Global Leadership Forecast 2023 found that only 32% of people trust the senior leaders in their organization. To further complicate this, a recent survey by PwC reports that executive leaders significantly overestimate to what extent they are trusted. This ‘trust gap’ is significant.
Trust means “uncompromised by doubt.” In today's world filled with change, disruption and volatility, leadership trust is critical. Trust is a two way street. To create a culture of trust, and inspire trust, leaders need to show trust. Relational capacity and trust is built over time and must be maintained. Research by Dennis and Michelle Reina suggests that in organizations with high trust - people show up and do their best work. Cultures of high trust align people around the mission and encourage people to take risks, support one another and communicate openly and honestly.
The work of creating and maintaining trust is reiterative hard work. It must embrace and encompass systems, structure and people. One concept to keep in mind is that people don’t trust what they don’t know. The antidote to this is regular and ongoing communication and opportunities to interact with people throughout your organization. PwC research reveals that employees see the following strategies as trust building; providing support, training and mentoring, providing team building activities, listening, providing career advancement opportunities, transparency, and strong communication. On a final note, authentic engagement that is regular and ongoing is a necessary condition to accomplishing a culture of trust.
What are you doing to create and maintain a culture of trust?
“The ability to establish, grow, extend, and restore trust with all stakeholders —customers, business partners, investors, and coworkers— is the key leadership competency of the new global economy.” ~ Stephen M.R. Covey
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