Trust…The Simple Things Matter Most

By Dr. Pauline Rivers

October 14, 2021

Of all the qualities that are important in a leader, I believe trust—building trust, inspiring trust, extending trust, being trustworthy—is what matters most.

I think everything else that is important in a strong, healthy working relationship, emanates from trust.

It’s the simple, yet intentional, things that really matter most in building trust.

Things like returning an employee’s phone call.

Or something so simple, yet so important, as responding to an employee’s email in a reasonable and realistic timeframe (within 48 hours, perhaps).

It is working very hard to protect the monthly one-on-ones with employees because it is that time, set aside each month, when the employee is your singular focus. It is “their time” with you.

It’s simple things like asking employees how they are doing and really listening and taking a mental note so you can follow up later.

It’s asking for their ideas, using those ideas when feasible and giving the employees the credit.

It’s something simple, yet intentional, like finding opportunities for them to work in their strengths. Allowing them to shine and helping them to succeed.

It’s believing them and believing in them.

They are all a bunch of simple, little things. But when it comes to trust, it’s the simple things that matter most.

Dr. Rivers

Pauline Rivers, PhD Consulting and Training, LLC

paulinerivers.com

…helping people be great at what they do…