Never make any decision that you would feel uncomfortable reading about in the newspapers a few days later. Your reputation as a manager and a leader is highly dependent on what decisions you take. Do not foster gossip and never forget to acknowledge the contributions and efforts of others. These are some basic recommendations that management.about.com gives to leaders who want to establish and sustain a relationship of trust with their subordinates.
Trust is a necessary part of every relationship that is to be healthy and productive. Without it productivity shrinks, while engagement and communication disappear. When you find yourself in the awkward situation of not being sure whether your team trusts you, check these tips of how to re-build a foundation of trust.
1. Be reliable. Don’t promise more than you can deliver. Always do what you said you would do.
2. Keep confidential information. If you fail to keep a secret, you cannot expect anything but mistrust as a result. If you know that some information cannot be kept confidential, do not promise that it will be.
3. Do not blame others for your own mistakes. Instead, admit your weaknesses. This proves you are humble and accountable. And when a mistake is made, learn a lesson from it.
4. Be aware of what your subordinates think. Ask them for feedback. Show that you care about their opinions.
5. Share credit and acknowledge the work of others. You don’t want to be seen as a thief of innovative ideas. That would cause the trust literally to evaporate.
6. Share information. Your subordinates want to be informed about what is going on and what will be going on. Provide consistent updates and explain why certain things are happening.
7. Share information but not gossip. Don’t talk about someone when they are not present. The only exception is when you are saying something positive.
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