How to Coach Yourself and Others Influencing, Inter Personal and Leadership Skills | Page 77
Building and nurturing trust in the workplace requires leaders who:
Honestly describe any situation they are in, including discussing any loss of
trust that has occurred.
Respect others and relationships with them during tough times as well as
when things are smooth sailing.
Nurture understanding and empathy with themselves and with others.
Desire to build and maintain a cooperative organizational culture
Are You Trustworthy?
Demonstrating trustworthiness is critical if you want to successfully manage change, and
you should periodically gauge how worthy of trust your own behavior is. You can use the
following questions as a starting point.
Is my behavior predictable or erratic?
Do people know what to expect from me? Do my actions match the values I espouse?
Your actions should follow your words and should stay constant regardless of the times
or people you are working with.
Do I communicate clearly or carelessly?
Some people speak without thinking of the impression their words leave behind and how
they impact people’s lives. When you speak without considering this, people begin to
think you are flippant and not worthy of trust.
Do I keep my promises?
If you don’t keep your promises, then neither will those you work with. If people cannot
tell what you value and will follow through on, confusion and mistrust will result.
Am I forthright or dishonest?
No one trusts someone who lies. Honesty doesn’t mean that you disclose everything
when it isn’t appropriate, but you need to be honest about what you can and cannot
discuss.
What Is Your Capacity for Trust?
Your ability to trust others reflects to some extent your ability to trust yourself.
The following questions will help you begin to think about your capacity for trusting
others.
Do you trust yourself?
In what types of situations can you answer “yes” and when is the answer “no”?
In what ways do you consider yourself reliable?
In what ways do you consider yourself unreliable?
Do you trust others?
When can you say “yes” to this? When do you say “no”?
What do you look for when considering whether another person is trustworthy?
Do you trust people as a habit, or do you wait for them to prove themselves?