For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. 2 Corinthians 8:21 (NIV)
Over the past few days we’ve been discussing leadership. We’ve established that we are all capable of being leaders, since leadership is influence. We all want to be able to influence others, especially when it’s for their own benefit because we have something to share that will help them.
We discussed yesterday how you can’t influence someone if all you have is the task or end result in mind. You need to take the whole person into consideration—their hopes, dreams and desires, what they enjoy and their sense of purpose. You also need to build a relationship with them.
There are four building blocks to relationships, according to Tom Marshall’s book entitled Understanding Leadership: trust, care, respect and understanding. Without these four, there is no relationship. Today we will discuss the first: trust.
Trust is the most fragile of the four.
Trust is something that is built over time, but it can be lost in a moment. It’s built when what you say lines up with what you do, when someone tells you something sensitive and you keep it to yourself, and also when you come through for someone in need.
Trust is built when you keep the little promises you make and when your decisions reflect that you have the other person in mind. It’s also built when you extend forgiveness and when you sincerely seek another’s forgiveness.
To lead effectively, people need to be able to trust you. Take a look at each of your relationships and ask yourself, “Do I need to build trust with this person?” And if you do, what can you change today?