How do you gain the Trust of your people?

Personal profile

I was reading a story “The Doomsday Machine” in Steven Pinker’s book Hothead I present an extract on his conclusion on Emotions
‘Long-distance phone service, electronic mail, faxes, and video conferencing should have made the face-to-face business meeting obsolete. But meetings continue to be a major expense for corporation and supports entire industries, like hotels, airlines, and rental cars. Why do we insist on doing business in the flesh? Because we do not trust someone until we see what makes him (her – my own addition) sweat.’
I thought I’d share this because it has a parallel to Leadership.

The enigma called leadership is fast gaining accelerated exposure, to the point that the flavor of the month leadership models is starting to appear. Have I considered patenting a Francis A. Nwofor 7 Cycles for Effective Leadership Model? ‘No!’ Of cause I have, but then I thought, with respect to what Steven Pinker was expressing in his conclusion, a new leadership model is not what we need to lead effectively. What we need to learn is how to understand our fellow human being, because Great Leadership and with that Great Followship comes from People understanding People, it is ironic that this message as been repeated more than once in our history as a race, yet we have not taken heed.

Leadership Thoughts

1. Once a Leaders always a Servant
2. To get the job done right the first time around, send in your best men/women
3. Are you teaching your People to be Teachers of Teachers of Leaders?
4. Continuity occurs when people are made equal participants in a process
5. If you don’t want to lead, be careful who you follow – Wayne, January 2006
6. The person chasing you is your best advisor – Isaiah, March 2006

Leadership Trouble Spot

How do you gain the Trust of your people?

John Maxell tells us that Leadership is influencing nothing more nothing less, yet to influence someone, whether they are a child, brother, sister, partner, customer, co-worker, or subordinates you must have a strong relationship with them.

The first hurdle to developing a strong relationship is Trust and with that Trustworthiness, the ability to give trust as well as accept trust, to be trusted.

The Bow (Rei) to a Martial Artist symbolises many things, one of which is a bond of Trust, a trust that is cultivated between the Master and the Student or between each Student. The Master is trusting that the Student will not abuse the skills being passed on to them, likewise, when the Student places his or her life in the hands of the Master, the Student is trusting that the Master will not abuse this trust.

Echoing Mr. Pinker’s point on the fact that we don’t trust people until we see what makes them sweat, I haven’t as of yet come across a leadership model that present a one size fits all receipt on how to develop and cultivate trust amongst a group of people without first going through the pain of:
1. Continually Developing yourself
2. Being Open (transparent – and yes there are those that will try to take advantage of this fact)
3. Getting to know your people’s fears, dreams and aspiration

When I work with organisations or individuals within an organisation, I will often ask them:
1. What is your metaphor for trust?
2. How do you show trust in your daily transaction between, you and your customers, between you and your employees (especially that new member of staff)?
3. How do you go about regaining trust, when trust is broken?
4. What do you do when someone continually abuses your trust?


How have you gone about developing and cultivating trust with your people? Or how did you handle question 3 & 4 when you faced it?

Executive Summary

Steven Covey said ‘we manage things and lead people’, John Maxwell said ‘leadership is influence nothing more nothing less’; however to lead, to influence we need to have a strong positive relationship with the person or people that we are attempting to influence or lead, and trust as well as trustworthiness lies at the core of this relationship. No new management or leadership model or a 7 step guide to building trust will help you become trustworthy other than to live and embody trust and trustworthiness is your thoughts, deeds and spoken words.

This is Francis Nwofor, saying be inspired, stay motivated, & feel empowered.