The Pivotal Role of Trust in Leadership

Part of leading a Customer Success team is also about being a good leader. So, from time to time, I will also share some of my learnings and takeaways from my own leadership development. Whether you’re a seasoned manager or you just became a manager for the first time, there will be some gems here for you! You can see the last installment here: Judgement’s Role in Leadership

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When people are asked what makes a great leader, trust comes up repeatedly. It makes sense; to create something magical and to make an impact, we need to have trust in our leaders and in one another so that we can be more effective and innovative (among many other things) at our roles. However, as a young leader, what does trust look like and how can we create this culture of trust from the ground up?

In this installment, we break down what trust (in teams and in leaders) is and the characteristics and behaviors that can promote a trusting team.

Discussion/Reflection Questions

1. What does a trusting team look like to you? What does it feel like? Do you currently have that in your own teams?
2. Is there a culture of trust at your company? What can you as part of the leadership team do to help promote a culture of trust?

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Trust and Leadership
https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/trust-project/videos/murnighan-ep-4.aspx

• Great starter video to get our feet wet — 3.5 minute video with an interactive transcripts + addendums that goes over trust, different starting points for trust, and automatic trust. Want more short videos? Simon Sinek on Trust in Company Culture (4 mins)

You Can’t Be A Great Leader Without Trust — Here’s How You Build It
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2012/10/24/you-cant-be-a-great-leader-without-trust-heres-how-you-build-it/#11b052334ef7

• This article does a quick overview of why trust is important and the 8 strengths a leader should have to build trust
• Notable Quotes:

“One of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is to assume that others trust him simply by virtue of his title. … It must be earned, and it takes time.”

“Trust is like a forest. It takes a long time to grow and can burn down with just a touch of carelessness.”

How Smart Leaders Build Trust
https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/how-smart-leaders-build-trust

• This article goes into why trust in an organization is important, signals of trust, and the role of the risk of betrayal in trust.
• Notable Quotes:

“I believe that trust is more powerful than power itself.”

“Trust-building requires rigor and intentionality.”