How do you wield trust? Like a sword or a gift?
Wielding trust like a sword usually means you don't use it or give it often. You approach most things and people with skepticism and then when people behave just like you think, you lop their head off never to even think of trusting them again.
What's odd about this, in my experience, usually when a manager doesn't trust their team it's because they don't trust themselves. They feel that they are in charge, they are supposed to know and control everything. Or that there was one time where someone let them down and it was a huge embarrassment for them.
However, what they fail to realize is that they can't control everything and if someone let them down...how they handled that situation is what caused the embarrassment...not that they trusted someone too much.
Wielding trust like a gift means you give it freely and you care for the trust you receive. And just like a gift returned, how you handle someone who drops the trust ball, is just as important. (Man, these analogies are hard work!!)
I have found that trusting my team to behave like the professionals, like the experts, they are moves the team dynamic like nothing else. I mean honestly, it's their job...let them do it. Let them rise to new levels by gaining new experiences and learning lessons. If they abuse your trust, then approaching it in a professional manner will do one of two things. 1. They'll work their butts off to never do it again or 2. They won't care. If they don't care, well then you know what you are dealing with and can make moves to start removing them from your team. However, if they have learned their lesson then you have scored big time in creating a new dedicated team member.
Being given trust as a manager should be handled like a precious gift as well. I know way too many managers that could care less if their team trusts them. They have no clue, no clue at all how damaging that is. Yet, they are the same managers who complain about their team or how they never step up when needed. These managers don't realize they've created that environment. There are many ways to build trust, but it can be lost in a heartbeat. And once you have broken that bond of trust, it's hard to get back...it can be done...but why go through the hassle and stress?
So, let me ask you again, how are you wielding trust? Like a sword or a gift?
Lead with Greatness!
-Renata
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(Original Post Date: 4/24/2019)
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