There are two kinds of trust that every functioning team needs to cultivate: relationship trust and responsibility trust. Relationship trust creates emotional safety within the team because the members know their leader is consistent, and vice versa. Responsibility trust means the leader is confident in the work that the team does, and the team knows this.
When trust exists between team members and their leader, the team runs like a well-oiled machine.
As a leader, how do you cultivate these two kinds of trust? I have five thoughts for you to consider. The Holy Spirit can guide you into implementing these strategies with your team.
First, be authentic and honest. This means admitting to your mistakes. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Admitting mistakes tells your employees that you are human and can be vulnerable. People will relate to that and be vulnerable when they make mistakes as well.
Second, learn to appreciate your team and the work they do. The best leaders express their appreciation for others, value relationships for the long term, and demonstrate their caring by seeking to help others. When you show appreciation for your team, they will be comfortable interacting with you and with each other in positive ways.
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Third, be open to learning.
“The best leaders are those who are always learning from their surroundings.”
Billy Epperhart
To do this, listen to what your team says. You are there to provide direction, but you also need your team’s plans, ideas, and recommendations. You’ll make better decisions when you hear the common sense of the group.
Fourth, stand up for what’s right. In a team built on trust, you’ll find that everyone sees the same thing when an issue comes up. You don’t have to tell them what they see; righteousness is something that people can see on their own. Even if they have different opinions, you can trust that they can make up their own minds.
Fifth, remember that people need an element of order. When there is order, your team will feel confident in what they’re doing. Any time order is not present, it’s because the environment is not emotionally safe or because you as a leader aren’t being consistent. This creates broken trust; your team cannot depend on their workplace.
If you are in a leadership position, remember that God called you there for a reason.
It’s up to you to create trust on your team, and if you let the Holy Spirit help you, that trust will come easily.
Billy Epperhart is passionate about teaching people how to achieve financial freedom. He’s the CEO of Andrew Wommack Ministries and Charis Bible College. His nonprofits, WealthBuilders and Tricord Global, help people impact God’s kingdom financially. Author of seven books, his newest is Run Your Race: How to Pursue God’s Will for Your Life with Peace, Patience, and Productivity. Billy is from Texas but currently resides in Colorado with his wife, Becky. Visit WealthBuilders.org to learn more about Billy’s nonprofit organizations.
