Page 60 - 4- Leading_from_Within

organization requires long-term trustworthiness. If no trust exists, there is
no influence over others, which means there is no leadership. Without
trust, a leader will never get the results he or she wants.

Leaders can no longer trust in power; instead, they rely on the power of
trust. Charles Green.

Basically, trust is a matter of predictability and reliability. People trust
those whose behavior is consistent and who display competence, even if
they don’t really like them. It is much easier for people to consider you
trustworthy if they have a sense of what you are likely to do in a given

situation. Relationships and communication often break down when the
people involved cannot predict or figure out what the other party is trying
to accomplish. When people have little confidence about how you will
behave in certain circumstances, they may have hope but not trust.

Predictability is demonstrated by such actions as meeting commitments
and keeping promises. It is therefore important that you do what you say
you are going to do. This also enhances the sense of reciprocity needed to
encourage others to follow through on what they have promised. As was
also stated earlier, being trustworthy yourself promotes trusting behavior

from other people. Trust in a relationship generally develops gradually
over time through a pattern of predictability in the personal interactions
between the parties.

However, consistency of behavior is difficult in a climate of constant and

complex change, which means that the ability to be trusted can be put to
the test when major change is occurring within the organization or to it.
Those leaders who take a stand in the midst of adversity and are
committed to see an action through are more likely to gain the trust of
others. This is important, because leaders can’t repeatedly break trust with
people without losing their ability to influence them.

Trust certainly does not happen simply because of someone’s position or
title. As was just discussed, trust must be earned, and that takes time.
Trust can develop when people feel the safety and security of being
accepted. Acceptance leads to trust because it increases the chances that

David Kolzow 60