Trust is the assured reliability on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. It is likely the first character that is tested in an individual’s life when reaching a term of agreement.
When the character is seen clearly and its image well glaring, the partner could put their mind at rest to sign the paper of the contract. You don’t even dare to relate well with your parents when trust is in doubt and wherever trust is not found, love can never have its presence there.
Trust! We mention it so faintly, but its weight is usually bigger than that of a heavyweight champion.
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Trust can be found in all spheres of life, but the spirit is one. There are legal trust, trust in relationships, trust in career, trust in business, trust in leadership, and other types of trust(s). I will reveal the details of trust in leadership here for better knowledge and growth of leadership in our days.
Leadership is always the candle that shines the light to trust, and wherever trust is missing, the leader is the first to be questioned. Though they may not be the cause of the missing trust, they are always believed to set the pace of trust wherever he/she is found. No wonder the words of my mentor, Dr Myles Munroe(of blessed memory) would always entice me whenever I stumble upon any of his coaching materials on leadership. Just as this: “Trust is a virtue that is built in you as a leader, and your followers naturally buy into.” Dr Myles Munroe
The character of trust is so strong and of great value in leadership because it is the actual image of integrity. Before a leader can be assessed as a person of integrity, it means that the voice of trust must be heard undaunted in him/her.
This is because it is believed that the value of leaders speaks for them; only a little of their talking: most especially when it comes to promise keeping.
William, the son of Cornelius Vanderbit, who runs the affairs of his father’s rail business in the United States (USA), shortly after the Civil War asked his father this question of trust after he met with the rising oil mogul in Cleveland(USA): John D. Rockefeller; “do you trust him?” This is to emphasis the worth of trust in leadership. It is not the wealth acquired by a leader that promotes his/her integrity, it is rather the length at which his/her trust could pass on the scale of test.
Other qualities give beauty to trust in leadership: wherever there’s trust, there is constant progress; where there is trust, hatred is not always present, among others.
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Do you care to ask me: ‘Why is trust so important in leadership?’ Let me answer you from five different points.
👉 Leaders lead: They are at the central point of decision-making; the followers are therefore meant to follow their life style. If trust is not, therefore, seeing in a leader, he is not qualified to be followed.
👉The Vision of a leader is meant to be followed: A leader’s thoughts, relationship, and imagination compose the vision he/she will birth. This vision could either be clear and encouraging or blurry and misleading. The followers take the decision.
👉Leaders are to bring transformation: Often, this starts from the leader; there’s a great fear if a leader cannot cause a unique change in his/her life. People would be afraid of following such a leader.
👉Leaders know better: Not by age nor by material acquisition, but a leader is often given the regard of wealth of knowledge. This is because they are seen as a frontline. The level of your expertise as a leader gives followers confidence for safe followership.
👉The Future of the Followers: The life of a follower is at stake whenever they choose to follow a leader’s vision; this is because the corporate vision is paramount to other personal visions, and it is usually born by the leader. This can define what becomes their future or how they will end up with their destiny in the journey of fulfilment. There’s, therefore no time to contemplate; the vision must be a clear pointer to a great future, and if not, you should peacefully drop out.
Trust cannot in any way be exempted from leadership. Otherwise, it would be a one-man affair. It is, therefore, paramount for leaders to consider trust as the most needed value to impact the lives of their followers.
