Leadership: Building Trust Means Better Listening

I thought this article did an excellent job illustrating the importance of listening as a means of gaining trust. The author notes that “The organization of today will require leadership that can operate on the edge of chaos by relinquishing command and control and creating an environment of mutual trust and respect.” First, one must not assume that their position automatically makes them an expert in the eyes of employees. In terms of building trust, the way you treat people has just as much impact as your knowledge and expertise. As the author says, “You may be a whiz in your specific area, but treat people poorly and their trust in you will plunge.”Another one of the “small” things you can do to respect people is become a better listener, which is not as easy as it sounds because listening is an art, a skill, and a discipline because when others are talking we usually end up paying attention to the “noise” in our own heads. We must always be aware of which of the two noises you’re listening to. A few other small things the article mentions is: do what you say you are going to do; thank others who deserve it; expose your thinking process. “Operating on the edge of chaos goes a lot smoother when people respect and trust you. Make a commitment to better understand and build trust. Practice some of the small stuff, become a better listener and your trust levels will definitely rise.”