You have just been appointed to a management position, which calls for celebration. So, congrats. However, the big job has just begun – this big job here means you have to win the trust of your team members. It is not just telling them that “we are a team” or “let’s work as a team” or “there’s no ‘I’, but ” We”. It goes beyond sitting on niceties and talking about being the best team ever or rolling out plans. The big challenge is winning the trust of the team over a long period. It will be more difficult if you are filling up a big pair of shoes or you have been asked to surpass a previous mark or record.
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The reason you need to earn the trust of your team members is that if they don’t trust your judgment or your decisions, you might experience a cog in the wheel of your corporate and personal progress. Second, there might be a clash of ideas and misinterpretation of goals, objectives and even intentions.
Therefore, in this article, I discuss crucial things you need to do to earn the trust of your team in the long run.
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Keep Team Members Informed
One of the first things to do as new management is to create room for communication. This communication room should be all about feedback, instructions, and so on. Don’t expect your team members to read your mind. You must tell them what to do and ask for their feedback. Also, any new changes should be communicated to team members rather than keeping them in oblivion. Tell them how to deal with emergencies, client complaints and so on. You can give them clear instructions on how to go about it.
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In a bid to communicate your ideas to your team members, you must give them reasons why they should execute your ideas. You have to explain to them so that they don’t think you are instructing them around. For example, you can ask a team member to get on the phone with one of the company’s clients because the client’s business growth is part of the company’s vision and mission, and by ensuring that the client is satisfied, she will keep doing business with the company, which means more revenue for the company and of course you keep earning her trust and not lose her to a competitor.
You may be overwhelmed with work of your own, but snubbing an employee with a question will come back to torment you. Just taking a minute to listen could save you many headaches later. As new management, being open-minded will make your job easier.
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Studies have shown that managers who engage in brainstorming with their team members achieve more results and build a stronger bond among team members in the long run. Being open to feedback, suggestions, and advice from team members is the quickest way to earn team members’ trust. However, a closed mind is counterproductive to business growth.
Concluding Remarks
Normally, people might want to doubt your abilities as a new manager. It is the natural behavioural response to change. However, the bulk of the job lies on your desk. You have to go out there and engage them. First, be clear on instructions and expectations. Second, give them reasons why your expectations will be beneficial to all stakeholders. Third, be open to suggestions, and feedback, and of course, give room for communication flow. Trust me, you’ll be fine.
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This article was first published on 22nd April 2022
nnaemeka-emmanuel
Nnaemeka is an academic scholar with a degree in History and International Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is also a creative writer, content creator, storyteller, and social analyst.
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