Trust.  Such an important topic because I have been witness to countless situations and experiences where it was lacking.  For example, the time when I made a big purchase from a charismatic vendor who then stopped communicating with me after the check was received.  Or, the time when I was surrounded by leaders making big decisions, but not one of them could walk their fancy talk. In both situations, I lost trust (and respect) for the leaders and their companies, which means that ultimately my relationship with them also soured.  How do you think this translates to their bottom line? 

Rule #7 in Pulling Together: 10 Rules for High Performance Teamwork by John J. Murphy is:

Build trust with integrity and example.

If you are a leader within your company, it's imperative that you are highly trusted.  You can't be a great leader or most positively influence your company's financial success if you aren't. So how can you build your "way of being" to be viewed as a leader with integrity and who leads by example?  Over time, you can earn trust by building and maintaining the following 8 skills, which are adapted from an article in Forbes Leadership Forum, You Can't Be a Great Leader Without Trust. Here's How You Build It, by David Horsager.

1. Clarity. People trust what is clear and what they understand.  Don't be ambiguous with direction or expectations.

2. Compassion. People believe in those who care about others.  Don't only look out and care for yourself.

3. Character. People notice when others do what is right.  Don't take the easy road and or make decisions that make people question your judgment.

4. Contribution. People appreciate seeing actual results.  Don't let everyone do all of the work; deliver results and participate.

5. Competency. People have confidence in those who stay capable and continue to learn.  Don't stop "doing" and keep staying current.

6. Connection. People respect and like to be around others they enjoy and connect with.  Don't forget to build meaningful relationships so you can have genuine connections.

7. Commitment. People believe in those who stand by their beliefs and decisions.  Don't be wishy washy or change paths to what's easier. 

8. Consistency. People value reliability and consistency in performance and upholding of standards.  Don't say and do two different things and don't sacrifice quality.

These 8 skills need to be exercised, practiced, and upheld on a consistent basis so that you can inspire trust.  Gaining this trust will not only mean that you will get more value out of your employees, but you will also foster better relationships and results from your customers and vendors.

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