At the basis of any leadership program is Trust.
In John Maxwell’s book, The Five Levels of Leadership, Maxwell defines leadership simply as influence.
Everyone has the ability to influence others, and how they use their influence defines how effective a leader they become. How does one gain influence, and thereby increase their opportunity to lead? One of the key ways is to gain trust.
Recently, I attended a dinner where the keynote speaker was Stephen M.R. Covey, author of The SPEED of Trust. In his book, Covey conveys research and statistics that support the importance of trust on both sides of a relationship to meet any goal. The importance of trust is evident in personal, business, and as we have seen in the continued stalemate in the State of Illinois, political relationships. Without it, nothing gets accomplished.
Trust is a Competency. It can be learned and increased. It starts with building relationships, which leads to familiarity and comfort. Familiarity and comfort breed trust. Trust breaks down walls and leads to efficiency. Efficiency saves money leading to financial benefits. Covey mentions how trust can produce better communication, less turnover, increased job satisfaction, more fun, and overall better profits. Covey states from a 2002 Watson Wyatt study, high trust organizations outperformed low-trust organizations by 286 percent in total return to shareholders (stock price plus dividends).
Trust is something we all have the ability to give. It’s a choice for each of us, and easier for some than others; trust breeds trust. When a person is given the trust of their co-worker to complete a project, that trust is usually reciprocated, allowing for more open communication. An open, trusting environment can spawn ingenuity and creativity, as well as a positive, less-stressed environment where fear is eradicated.
Leadership is important but takes a lot of dedicated time, effort, and continuous communication. One of the ways to ensure better communication is to promote self-awareness and awareness of others. A great way to provide this awareness is through RightPath Resources personality testing. If you or your company is interested in a team facilitation centered around leadership development and how to better understand each other, contact WellBridge Solutions at geoff@wellbridgesolutions.com.