Journey to Leadership: Topic 3. Show Your Trust

Traveling around many countries for leadership development workshops, I usually asked a question to the participants: What would be the single most important thing you want from your boss for you to perform effectively?

Regardless of countries, managers or non-managers, the answer was surprisingly the same: Trust. Of course, some participants suggested money, vacation, promotion, etc. in the beginning, but they quickly concluded with Trust.

It is a very important message to leaders. As Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs suggests, People's needs grow up to a higher level. The top level needs, self-actualization could be satisfied to some extent by having some freedom doing their work using their own idea. I saw many people that leave their organizations when their needs for freedom were not satisfied. Very high-level executives even at global scale companies also leave the companies to start their own businesses (although much smaller ones). Freedom is the most important intrinsic human values.

Many books on leadership emphasize the importance of clear visions or effective strategies. But if the visions or strategies are solely from the CEO alone, no matter how high executives you are, you would not be happy especially when you don't agree with them.

To make your people feel trusted, you as a leader should give more responsibility (delegate as much as possible) and authority to allow them to make decisions. People wish to work for leaders who say "You make decisions doing your work and I will share the responsibility for the results." It shows the greatest trust at work.

This may sound very risky as you are still responsible for the outcome of their decisions. A good process to achieve this working relationship is two-way communication:

• Explain your idea of a task and objective to your people
• Let your people suggest their preliminary plans to implement the task or alternative task idea
• Discuss and agree with your people and ask them to come up with little more details - at this stage, allow as much freedom as possible to your people
• Then, your people can go on to execution stage without too many risks to you.

Of course, your people need to be prepared for your trust, but you also need to take risks. Step by step approach of increasing the amount of your trust will surely help.

Not many people will passionately work for you while you don't trust them. Show your trust to energize them.