This week’s Kind Leadership Focus: Kind Leadership creates TRUST
There’s been a lot in the news lately about “The Great Resignation.” People are leaving jobs, and not returning to jobs, even after unemployment benefits have been discontinued. I’m not surprised though, because I think that throughout the pandemic, people have spent time reflecting on what they will, and won’t, accept at work, and from those who lead and manage them. What they won’t accept is working in fear, and inequity. They won’t accept working for leaders that don’t have their best interest at heart.
And that is where TRUST comes in. Kind Leaders consider the wants, needs and perspectives of those they lead first. They make decisions not on what will be to their own benefit most: that next promotion, a bigger raise, greater profits for shareholders, but on what will help those they lead. And that creates trust. When we are truly confident that our leader has OUR best interests at heart, we aren’t afraid because we have trust in them.
This week, as you go about your work week, here’s some things to look for and ask yourself:
When you are wearing your Follower Hat:
1. Do I trust that my leaders have my best interests at heart?
2. What will I do if I don’t trust them?
When you are wearing your Leader Hat:
1. How do I know that those who follow me trust that I have their best interests at heart?
2. If they don’t trust me, what can I work on in myself to change that?
Looking forward to your thoughts!
(For more on the relationship between fear and trust, see Chapters 2 & 3 of The Kind Leader!)