BAUU 57 - The Ultimate Guide to Building Trust in Leadership
Rick Yvanovich FCMA CGMA FCPA MSc CCMP CCMC CBC MCH PCC
Certified Chief Master coach, entrepreneur, author, and speaker | Bridging technology, accounting, and people, I’m a catalyst inspiring human transformation for consistently higher achievement.
Welcome back to the Business As UnUsual (BAUU) TL;DR solutions for leaders. In this edition, we focus on one of the most critical pillars of effective leadership: trust.
In BAUU 17: Cultivating Psychological Safety, we explored how trust is essential in building a safe environment where teams feel empowered to speak up, take risks, and innovate freely. (You can revisit it here: BAUU 17 on LinkedIn)
Today, we go deeper into trust as a leadership practice—how leaders can personally build, demonstrate, and sustain trust through their actions, communication, and decisions.
The format is:
"Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication." — Stephen Covey
Problem
Trust is often taken for granted despite being critical to team success until it’s broken.
Leaders frequently face these challenges:
According to Harvard Business Review, teams with high levels of trust are 74% less stressed, 50% more productive, and 76% more engaged than teams with low trust.
How can leaders intentionally build trust and create an environment where teams feel safe, valued, and motivated?
TL;DR Solution
Use the TRUST Framework to establish, strengthen, and sustain trust across your team and organisation.
T = Transparency
Best Practice: Share information openly and communicate intentions clearly.
Practice: Regularly update your team on decisions, even difficult ones.
Impact: Builds confidence and reduces uncertainty.
R = Reliability
Best Practice: Follow through on promises and commitments.
Practice: Set realistic expectations and deliver consistently.
Impact: Reinforces your credibility and dependability.
U = Understanding
Best Practice: Show empathy and listen actively to team members.
Practice: Schedule regular check-ins to understand individual challenges.
Impact: Strengthens relationships and fosters connection.
S = Support
Best Practice: Create a culture where team members feel supported, even when mistakes happen.
Practice: Offer guidance without micromanaging.
Impact: Encourages risk-taking and accountability.
T = Truthfulness
Best Practice: Be honest, even when the truth is uncomfortable.
Practice: Admit mistakes and address concerns directly.
Impact: Builds long-term respect and integrity.
"Trust is earned when actions meet words." — Chris Butler
Why TRUST?
The TRUST Framework provides a structured and actionable approach for leaders to foster trust at every level.
How Is This Different from BAUU 17?
Together, these editions complement each other: psychological safety creates the space for trust to grow, and leadership behaviours ensure trust is sustained.
"Trust isn’t something you demand—it’s something you earn through consistent actions." — Rick Yvanovich
Try This
1. Trust-Building Workshops
Action: Host workshops on building trust through team exercises and open discussions.
Frequency: Quarterly
Impact: Strengthens team bonds and builds shared understanding.
2. Regular One-on-One Check-Ins
Action: Schedule frequent, informal one-on-one meetings with team members to build rapport.
Frequency: Bi-weekly
Impact: Creates a safe space for honest conversations.
3. Share Failures Openly
Action: Create a culture where leaders openly discuss lessons learned from failures.
Frequency: Ad hoc, after significant challenges
Impact: Normalises vulnerability and reinforces authenticity.
"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." — Ernest Hemingway
It’s a Wrap
That’s it for today, see you next week.
Comment, follow, like, and share this Newsletter.
As always, be happy, healthy, joyful, and wealthy.
/Rick
Need Personalised Guidance?
Building and maintaining trust in leadership isn’t always straightforward. If you’re facing trust challenges or want to create a trust-focused culture, feel free to reach out for a coaching session, and let’s tackle it together.
?? This edition aligns with Business As UnUsual: How to Thrive in the New Renaissance.
Get your copy for more on thriving in uncertainty here: https://www.rickyvanovich.com/books
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