Trust is built. Three expectations that every leader must meet to build trust (Part 2).
Your leadership is built on trust. Without trust, you cannot lead.
Earlier this fall, I identified three specific trust-related expectations that every leader must meet. The influence of these expectations is so significant that you will be trusted to the extent—and only to the extent—that you exemplify each one.
Bit by bit over time you can build trust, and as you do, I want to encourage you to remember that developing trust is not a simple and straightforward process. Resist the urge to think of trust in linear terms. Building trust is not a once-and-done exercise. You need to continually discern how others are responding to you to maintain their trust. People constantly test their relationship with leaders (and ministries).
Care
Last month, I wrote about competence.
The second trust-related expectation is care. This expectation is concerned with the perceived driver or motivation behind any action or activity you undertake as a leader.
You can built trust as a leader by authentically demonstrating concern and compassion.
Authenticity is vital in this area.
Care should not be feigned.
Authentic demonstrations of concern and compassion can include setting a positive example, being kind and courteous, being open to learning and teaching, being approachable, and following through with commitments. Such behaviours, when authentically demonstrated, significantly influence the trust-related expectations of others. These behaviours reinforce trust-related expectations.
You simply cannot afford not to genuinely care for others.
Care for others must be practiced. Trusted leaders actually care for others—they are concerned and have compassion for them.
These behaviours reinforce trust-related expectations and you must remember that people are watching you to assess the consistency of your behavior over time.
While I do not think it is necessary to draft a comprehensive list of the practices of a caring leader, sociologist Yiannis Gabriel proposed that the following practices can help leaders address the care needs in their context:
Caring leaders are visible and available. They give generously their time, counsel, coaching, recognition, and support.
Caring leaders are considerate and respectful of others. They recognize the value in others and seek to honour their commitment to the ministry.
Caring leaders are attentive to others and the needs of the ministry. They seek to maintain a mutually beneficial balance among those investing in the ministry.
Caring leaders are protective of others and the ministry. Caring means taking responsibility for others and being prepared to shield them from undue harm.
Caring leaders are committed to advancing mission. They understand their function is unique and needed in the ministry.
When you care for others you “actually enter into [the other] person’s world” to get to know them, “to understand them, to be ‘with’ them, to be present with them, and ultimately to [bring value to their lives],” observed Henry Cloud. As this takes place, people feel cared about, and trust is built.
An on-demand video series on how succession planning can help ministries advance their mission.
Succeeding In Succession is an on-demand video series on how succession planning can help ministries advance their mission. This series is designed to help leaders and ministries sustain organizational health even as they experience a leadership change.
Everything you need for this series is right here.
There are 10 sessions, plus 5 additional bonus sessions. Each session has its own set of presentation slides and an accompanying handout. Together these act as an interactive learning experience.
You can choose to work through this series over time taking one session at a time or bundle all the sessions together at once for a team retreat or simply pick and choose sessions that will be most helpful for you. The best approach will best fit your context.