To be an effective leader, you need to establish mutual trust. Trust is a 2-way street. The leader needs t o trust that their team members can handle the job they’re given, and staff need to trust the leader’s vision and direction.

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Without trust and respect, team members start looking for other jobs and leaders start looking for other staff.

It doesn’t have to come to this, leaders can regain lost trust from their team but it doesn’t come overnight.

Start by being deserving of trust. Be true to your word and do what you say. Lead by example. If you ask for your team members to get to work on time, you need to show up on time. If you want them to be respectful to customers you need to be respectful to customers.

You also need to show support for your team members, even when they make mistakes. Mistakes happen, but it’s how you handle these mistakes that determines the relationship. 

Mistakes do need to be corrected, but they don’t need to be rubbed in. Instead address the mistake, address how it happened, how to correct it and how to avoid it in the future.

Shouting and anger are not necessary.

You also need to balance the need for results with the needs of your staff. Be aware of their situation and their work load and how that affects them. You need to take all of this into account when managing staff.

Be considerate of their ideas and perspectives. Nothing errors trust faster than an idea that gets shot down and ridiculed. If that happens, you’ll never get another idea from them ever again. 

Remember this: trust is earned not demanded.

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