Any one of these practices will make you a better leader.

Read the full article at: www.inc.com

When I read the first sentence in this article describing Jeff Weiner, CEO of Linkedin, I was struck by the “wow” factor. “With a 97 percent employee approval rating on Glassdoor, LinkedIn’s Jeff Weiner has developed a reputation as one of the most beloved CEOs in the world.” 97% approval? Pretty close to perfect in anybody’s book. Beloved, you say? A CEO? Wow!

In his recent, 21-word Tweet, Weiner explains how mastering four qualities of leadership can be a game-changer:  “Inspire, empower, listen & appreciate. Practicing any one of these can improve employee engagement; mastering all four can change the game.”

I agree. However, being a change management consultant who believes that trust is an important, if not the most important, characteristic of great leadership, I was sure I knew (before I read his list) that trust would be one of Weiner’s four. With “97% approval” and “beloved” used as an adjective, I figured trust had to be in there somewhere. (I’m big on trust – generally. From myself, my husband and children, to my friends, my neighbors, my co-workers and, certainly, my boss, I want to exist in an environment of trust and safety. It’s simpler, more pleasant, more open, more forgiving  – more creative.)

Trust is vital to effective leadership. Instilling trust; building trust. It’s a must. Simply, people won’t fully commit to follow a leader they don’t trust. I was puzzled that Weiner didn’t mention it. Then I realized why. He didn’t mention it because he assumed it was there. He assumed that trust is an outcome, a by-product of inspiring, empowering, listening to and appreciating others.

Of course, he’s right. When people see their leaders consistently act in admirable ways, when they are encouraged to do their best and bring their whole selves to work, when their voices are heard, and when they feel genuinely valued, people naturally trust the leader who models these behaviors and creates / maintains this kind of environment. How could they do otherwise? As Shakespeare said, “…it must follow, as the night the day.” Trust is the inevitable outcome of inspiring, empowering, listening and appreciating. The 97% approval rating is also a 97% trust rating.

Wiener isn’t just telling leaders to be trustworthy, he’s showing us how to do it. This article helps you build trust by giving you practical instructions on ways you can become better (maybe even a master?) at four qualities of leadership.  It’s good advice.  Advice you can trust.

Contact us and we can help you better understand what you can do to how to build and maintain an environment of trust for your busines