Lisa Sporte, freelance writer/editor
  • Home
  • Samples
    • Rebranding
    • Business communications
    • Articles
    • Article links
    • Websites & products
    • Personal
  • Blog
  • Testimonials

My musings

A few of my thoughts, in my own voice.

SAMPLES

Rebuilding trust

9/17/2015

0 Comments

 
This is another post I wrote for The Booth Company, commenting on how to regain lost trust in the workplace. 

Embattled NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is learning about it—the fallout that comes from losing trust. In his case, he’s losing it because of missteps, undefined responses to issues, and potential lies. But he’s not just facing the fallout from the football organization solely, though; he’s facing it from the true people who pay him: NFL fans.

Trust is the cornerstone of all good relationships, both inside and outside of the office. Despite that, it can be human nature to make mistakes—inadvertently or even unknowingly at times—that erode that trust. At which point begins the task of rebuilding employees’ confidence in worthiness and ability. It can be a difficult and long journey, but the good news is that it’s not impossible. If you find yourself needing to re-create a platform of trust with your employees, here are some things to keep in mind.

First, be honest. It might seem simple, but it can be sort of tough—especially if a slip of dishonesty is what landed you in the problem zone to begin with. However, honesty is one of the biggest components to earning trust. Start by admitting your mistake or lie. You don’t necessarily need to explain why, but at least own up to what you did. That can start to earn you some respect.

After that, continue with the honesty by ensuring that your communication and your actions match—if you say you’ll do something, do it. Remember that confidence in your leadership isn’t necessarily about your being liked but rather about your employees believing that you’ll do what you say you’ll do. So be consistent with all of it—your messaging, your actions, your follow-through. Little could hurt your efforts more than your own discrepancies, small or large.  

Also, be certain that you’re communicating reliable information. If you’re not absolutely certain of the veracity of what you’re saying, don’t say it, because if it turns out to be wrong, you’ll lose any renewed trust you’ve managed to garner. If you don’t have all the facts, admit that, and give your employees a time frame when you hope to know the facts. But don’t try to fill the gaps without being absolutely sure. If you turn out to be wrong, you will have shot your own foot. 

When working with your employees, be present (not constantly examining your phone or doing other tasks) and be open. Let your employees know you’re available and willing to listen to their questions and concerns—tough as they might be—and that you’re working with them with an approach that allows mutual advantage, not just as a benefit to you.

In the big picture, remember that rebuilding others’ confidence in your abilities and their trust in you isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon, and you need to consistently work toward the end goal in mind. Time will tell what happens with the leadership in the NFL; what will happen with yours? 
0 Comments

    Author

    I’ve been inspired by many people and events. I hope to share at least a little of that inspiration. 

    Archives

    September 2023
    July 2021
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.