How to practice trust-based leadership Activity 26 08

Image: Foods rich in Vitamin C

Here is feedback on today’s “serving” with this quiz

What would you do as leader in this scenario?

You are very pleased when a bright individual joins your team. He is ambitious and in high demand, so you know the chances are good that he will look around for better opportunities if not satisfied with the work in your team. How do you intend building trust and loyalty?

Top talent special treatment OR Show dependability and reliability

FEEDBACK

Feedback if you chose: “Top talent special treatment”

Be careful with special attention to selected team members. This one individual may appreciate the recognition and special treatment, but other people in the team may notice it and rebel against your perceived favoritism. This will erode their trust in you and spoil team spirit.

Feedback if you chose: “Show dependability and reliability”

This is an appropriate response! There are two dimensions of trust; cognitive and emotional. The cognitive dimension of trust focuses on performance-relevant concepts such as competence, reliability and dependability to solve job-related problems. Thus, when team members get to know the leader as dependable and reliable, it can build trust and strengthen the relationship between the leader and team members.

This quiz is just a “taster” of a lot more fun-filled practical learning activities. See below.

Why trust-based leadership?

Just like the human body needs Vitamin C, every work unit needs leaders who can be trusted.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has several important functions. These include helping to protect cells and keeping them healthy, maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage and helping with wound healing. Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant which supports the immune system.

In the same way can trust-based leadership build and maintain a healthy culture of mutual respect where people feel free to participate, committed to do their best and collaborate by willingly offering support to the leader and the team.

“Trust in the leader is defined as “perceptions of being able to communicate openly [with the leader] … on job-related problems without fear of negative repercussions”. Current literature has demonstrated the positive impact of followers’ Trust in Leaders on generating desirable employee/organizational outcomes. Because of their minimized pride, altruistic behaviours and concern for the interests of all stakeholders, Servant Leaders are perceived as reliable role models by followers. Servant Leaders commonly establish a one-to-one basis for communication with followers to best understand their unique needs, goals and aspirations. They also inspire employees' trust.”

Research by Alireza Nazarian, Miguel A Rodríguez Molina and Peter Atkinson

Published by International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, 2024

How to develop and practice trust-based leadership

Every leader should do this

Just like the human body needs a regular portion of essential nutrients like Vitamin C to stay healthy, every leader needs a regular reminder and fresh exercise in developing essential leadership dimensions like trust-based leadership.

Do what successful people do

World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nominee Ethan Hooker ascribes his success to “Just always have something on your mind that you want to work on and better yourself. Get addicted to almost bettering yourself every day”

You must continuously be reminded of all the leadership functions and keep on learning how to make the essential dimensions part of your being in a leadership role

Take these steps now

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• Nominate your team leaders and supervisors at admin@protalent.co.za

Our learning and development activities are derived from recent scientific research. Our interactive modules are quick to complete, deeply impactful and translates complex leadership concepts and principles into understandable and useful strategies for everyone to use in the workplace and in their personal lives, making learners more effective in leading teams, enhancing personal wellness and refining interpersonal skills. Learners develop a comprehensive understanding of essential leadership dimensions, they learn how to apply it in simulations as well as the real work environment, coupled with coaching feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Written by Principal Coach at the Academy for Practical Leadership Development

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