Cocktails with Carl
Written by Carl Monty, Director + Partner at June Co.
Building Trust, the Key to Developing Strong Relationships
One of the 6 core values in our company is “relationships first”. What that means to us is an environment that values people first and also promotes the creation of meaningful relationships that last a lifetime. We spend a good amount of time talking about this, but at the end of the day it’s easier said than done. Developing meaningful relationships is hard work and it requires a ton of investment. The strength of our relationships is determined by the level of trust that has been built over a period of time. That trust needs to be earned.
So how do we do that? Of course we encourage our team to connect with each other regularly both in and out of the office, putting in the time it takes to build that trust. We also support this idea through company team building events like eating lunch together around a large table every 2 weeks (we’ve missed this a lot in the past year!). Here we forget about work for a couple hours and dig deeper with one another personally.
These are more socially driven opportunities, and although important, there are a number of things we can also focus on while working together professionally that help establish the trust that is critical to building meaningful relationships, improving team chemistry, and achieving better results.
Below are 10 specific ideas for leaders to build trust in their organizations.
Model the behavior that you seek-A leader's behavior is indicative of the culture of the organization-which directly affects employee attitude and effort. For example, if being on time is important, make sure you are not late to meetings.
Demonstrate competence-Being good at what you do is the litmus test for believability. Don’t misconstrue this with “knowing everything”-you don’t and it’s not imperative as a leader that you do.
Be enthusiastic-Nobody will trust a leader that is focused on “doom and gloom”. Enthusiasm can be contagious and shows you are mentally prepared for the challenges ahead.
Care about the people you are working with-Act with compassion, especially when someone on your team is experiencing trying circumstances.
Listen-Be open to a range of ideas and withhold judgement until conversations are complete.
Practice consistency/dependability-Do what you say you are going to do. Keeping commitments must be at the core of your actions.
Do not micromanage-Set the strategy and direction, help define the process, but don’t dictate the day to day details. To be trusted you must also learn to trust.
Practice gratitude-Say thank you and acknowledge extra effort and contributions.
Build in accountability-Trusting a leader that never believes they have done anything wrong is nearly impossible. We are all imperfect people and we make mistakes. Own up to them.
Show vulnerability-Leaders are not superheroes. We struggle with certain things just like everyone else. Let your team get a peak of what it’s like to sit in your chair sometimes. That authenticity will go a long way to building trust.
Of course there are many more we could list-and these are not necessarily specific to leaders only. Anyone can apply these ideas regardless of the nature of the relationship. The important takeaway is that if you are part of a company, team, class, or group that needs to work together to achieve its goals, then the depth of your relationships is going to dictate your level of success. And, ultimately, the ability to develop those deep, meaningful relationships is solely dependent on the level of trust that has been earned over time.
Vesper Martini
A variation of the classic martini that James Bond drank in Casino Royale.
2 ozs Gin
1/2 ozs Vodka
1/4 ozs Cocchi Americano (This is an aperitif you can find at many liquor stores)
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add all ingredients and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon peel.