You're aiming to enhance your leadership. What tactics should you employ to establish trust and credibility?

Integrity forms the foundation of trust. Demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in all your actions. Keep your promises and be accountable for your mistakes. When your team sees that you consistently act with integrity, they will trust your leadership and feel confident in your decisions. Integrity also involves aligning your actions with your words, ensuring that you lead by example and set a standard for others to follow.

What they don't teach you about Leadership at Harvard: BE the leader everyone wants to follow. Instead of labelling every 'sexy' trait we all know you should adopt as a credible & effective leader [trust, authenticity, honesty etc]... Here are 3 focuses I coach my CEO clients through to establish authority: 1. Lead Yourself Before You Lead Others: - Your health, boundaries & priorities will prove your integrity & inspire 2. Create Foundations For Success: - Design strategies to ensure they feel valued & appreciated and can make key decisions when necessary 3. Align Your Leadership Style: - There's no right or wrong way to 'lead', find your approach & lean into it [the ability tap into all 6 Goleman Leadership Styles is even better]

Make a big circle. This is someone's life. Put a dot inside the circle. This is how much you know about it. Think about this. There are many layers of context hidden underneath the surface. When you have this mindset and show genuine curiosity with people, you will listen actively.

Active listening is critical for building trust and understanding within your team. Make an effort to truly hear what your team members are saying, showing genuine interest and empathy. This involves maintaining eye contact, nodding, and providing feedback that shows you understand their concerns. Encourage open communication by creating a safe space for team members to express their ideas and opinions. When people feel heard and valued, they are more likely to trust and respect your leadership.

Consistency in your actions and decisions reinforces trust and reliability. Establish clear expectations and follow through with them. Whether it's enforcing rules, providing feedback, or managing projects, consistency shows that you are dependable and fair. It also helps create a stable environment where team members know what to expect, reducing uncertainty and fostering a sense of security. Being consistent doesn't mean being inflexible; it means being fair and reliable.

Empowering your team members builds trust and enhances their confidence and skills. Delegate meaningful tasks and responsibilities, providing the necessary resources and support for them to succeed. Encourage professional development and recognize their achievements. Empowerment also involves trusting your team to make decisions and take ownership of their work. When you show trust in their abilities, it boosts their morale and strengthens their trust in your leadership.

- Delegate Responsibility: Trust your team with important tasks and decisions to show confidence in their abilities and foster their development. - Encourage Autonomy: Give team members the freedom to take initiative and innovate, boosting their confidence and engagement. - Recognize Achievements: Celebrate individual and team successes to motivate and reinforce their contributions to the organization

If you’ve ever had a leader who shared their mistakes openly, you know how powerful this can be. It allows everyone to embrace being human, helps provide a safe space, and encourages an always-learning mindset. Being humble promotes trust, which is key in solidifying a team. No one, even the ‘best’ leader, is perfect 100% of the time.

- Be Transparent: Acknowledge your errors openly and honestly, demonstrating integrity and accountability to your team. - Learn and Improve: Use mistakes as learning opportunities to show your commitment to personal and professional growth. - Set a Positive Example: Encourage a culture of openness and continuous improvement by being willing to admit and discuss mistakes constructively.

- Share Knowledge: Regularly offer insights, guidance, and support to help your team grow and succeed in their roles. - Be Reliable: Deliver on your promises and follow through on commitments to build a reputation for dependability. - Focus on Solutions: Address challenges proactively and provide practical solutions to enhance your team’s performance and outcomes

Vulnerability is important to establish trust and credibility. It is important to show that you are human, you may not have all of the answers, you may even make some missteps. It is showing others how you handle these instances that will forge that bond of respect and trust. Bluffing your way through situations, blaming someone or something else for the outcome not coming out as planned, will serve to do the opposite. Be honest, transparent, vulnerable but in control, and you will find that those around you will respect and trust you, even in uncertain situations.