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Leadership Lessons

Lesson 1

Leaders can rely on their followers, and followers can rely on their leaders, because of Trust. Leaders must learn to have faith in others while earning theirs in return.

Leaders can rely on their followers because they "trust" them. This is a real privilege for leaders. The more dependable the team members are, the more powerful the whole team is, and the more ambitious its goals may become. If everyone can be counted on to "do his or her part" (showing integrity) then the leader can focus on meeting other challenges.

Your most reliable "follower" (helper) might be your Mom, Dad, wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend. Because of trust, you can almost always count on him or her to take care of certain responsibilities, provide love and support, do household chores, earn money, help care for children, and so on. Because he or she has integrity and is worthy of your trust, you are endowed with freedom to focus on other important things in your life, like your own duties and interests. If you couldn't trust the other half of your partnership, you would be required to fulfill any duties that he or she failed to do. That's not fair, and such imbalances almost always cause serious problems.

Leaders need partners, helpers, or followers we can trust! With them we can do more; without them, much less.

Another key benefit to leaders trusting others is simply the strength in numbers gained by unifying people to work for a common purpose. The bigger your team and the greater your resources, the higher you can reach and farther you can go! While your team might start small, the combination of your creativity, Vision and perseverance will often inspire others to join your cause. The WTTU, ATA and STF are proof positive that this can happen!

So what happens when a leader cannot trust one or more followers? SNAP & CRASH! By failing to do his or her designated part, he or she is the "weak link" in the chain – the part of the system likely to break first and cause the whole system to fail. (You can only hope the 'weak link' is not someone in your chain, especially if your life is in their hands!) For a leader's power to be solid and strong, every individual link on the chain must be solid and strong.

Motivations for Followers to Be Trustworthy

Every team member has some incentive ("carrot") or deterrent ("stick") that compels them to be worthy of the leader's trust. Money is the most obvious incentive for workers to be reliable helpers. Motivation also comes from desire – of respect from peers, personal pride in 'a job well done,' or a shared passion for the successful outcome. The flip-side is also effective: the fear of losing your job or the respect of colleagues, for examples. Most people are motivated to be trustworthy helpers by a combination of factors. Leaders can build trust in their followers in a variety of ways as well.

Three things Teens & Adults can do to Build Trust In Others

1. Set Clear Expectations
   While it's important that everyone has a share in pursuing your Vision, it's also important that every member of the team understands his or her job. As a leader, it's your job to communicate clearly what you want and need from your helpers. Encourage questions. Listen to their advice or input. You can reduce any 'room for error' with good talking and listening skills. The outcome of first 'setting clear expectations' is usually very positive, which rewards the trust you have in your helpers.
2. Model Behavior
   A leader lives in "the public eye." You have the attention and notice of followers (helpers or employees), current and potential customers, business competitors, the public at large, as well as your friends and family. Your daily behavior sets the tone for everyone's perception of you - and the limits of what you can expect from them in return. Apply the Golden Rule and others will catch on to your respect.
3. Take Care of Helpers
   Respect up and down the line is critical to a successful project or mission. Acknowledge progress, reward achievement, and applaud the positive behaviors of your followers. Use their insights and talents to find success together, because they want a return on the investment of their time and talents. Recognizing the teamwork that makes success possible encourages more of it!

Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct answer.

1. If everyone can be counted on to "do his or her part" (showing ) then the leader can focus on .
2. Leaders need partners, helpers or followers we can trust! With them, ; without them, .
3. A leader can gain by unifying people to work for a common purpose.
4. For a leader's power to be solid and strong, every individual in the must be solid and strong.
5. Every team member has some ("carrot") or deterrent ("") that compels them to be worthy of their leader's trust.

Answers

1. Integrity, meeting other challenges
2. We can do more, much less
3. Strength in numbers
4. Link, chain
5. Incentive, stick

Next Lesson...

Leaders need trustworthy followers, and conversely, followers need a trustworthy leader. More on that in Trust, Part 2.