In the beginning, I made the mistake of thinking that my position as a new leader automatically earned me the respect and trust of my team.
But I quickly realized that coming from outside the organization meant that I needed to work extra hard to establish credibility and build relationships with my team members.
It was a daunting task, and I felt a lot of pressure to prove myself and earn respect.
What I learned from that experience is that establishing credibility and trust is crucial for any new leader, especially those who are starting in a new organization. Without trust and respect from your team, it's nearly impossible to lead effectively and achieve your goals.
One piece of advice I would give to new leaders is to prioritize relationship-building with your team members.
If you don't take the time to get to know them, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and build trust and rapport, you'll struggle to establish yourself as a credible leader.
If you don't heed this advice, you risk becoming isolated from your team and losing their respect and trust. This leads to low morale, high turnover, and ultimately, failure to achieve your goals.
Relationship-building is important because it allows you to create a strong foundation of trust and mutual respect with your team. When you have their trust, they're more likely to follow your lead, work hard to achieve your shared goals, and support you during challenging times.
So, how can you build relationships with your team members? Here are some actionable steps you can take:
#1. Schedule one-on-one meetings with each team member.
This is an opportunity for you to get to know your team members on a personal level, learn about their goals and aspirations, and build rapport. Make sure to actively listen and ask questions to show that you care about their success.
Set a regular cadence for these meetings (e.g., every month)
Prepare an agenda in advance to keep the conversation focused and productive
Follow up on any action items or commitments you make during the meeting
#2. Show vulnerability and authenticity.
Leaders who are authentic and vulnerable are more likely to build trust with their team members. Don't be afraid to admit when you don't know something or when you've made a mistake. Showing vulnerability humanizes you and makes you more relatable.
Share stories from your own experiences that demonstrate vulnerability
Admit when you don't know something and ask for help
Apologize when you make a mistake and take responsibility for your actions
#3. Be consistent and transparent.
Consistency and transparency are essential for building trust with your team members. They need to know that they can rely on you to be honest, fair, and predictable.
Communicate regularly with your team members about what's happening in the organization
Be transparent about your decision-making process and the reasons behind your decisions
Treat everyone on your team fairly and consistently
By following these actionable steps, you'll be well on your way to establishing credibility and trust with your team members. Remember, building relationships takes time, but it's worth the investment.
In conclusion, I want to leave you with some words of encouragement. Building trust and credibility as a new leader is challenging, but it's also incredibly rewarding. When you have a team that trusts and respects you, you can achieve great things together. So, keep investing in your relationships with your team members, and you'll see the benefits in no time.