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Rules of Trust

November 27, 2007

1. "Recognize that people will trust you not because of your charisma, your charm, or your vision, but because they have concluded that your leadership will advance their interests.  You therefore need to work to understand the people you lead and to know their interests.
2. Trust building takes time, so be prepared to invest the necessary time in the process.
3. Find ways to demonstrate that your interests are the same as your followers.
4. To gain the trust of others, you must trust first.
5. Trust building proceeds by increments.  So have a plan for a sequence of trust building measures.
6. The provision of information and your openness to those you lead are important building blocks of trust.
7. Be consistent and predictable in your actions as a leader.  Beware of the trust obstacles of lack of time, leadership mobility, an overly competitive environment, and exaggerated manifestations of the leadership ego (Salacuse, 2006, p .207)."

Reference: Salacuse, J.W. (2006). Leading leaders: how to manage smart, talented, rich and powerful people. New York: Amacom.

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Created: 2008-02-28, Updated: 2009-01-06