Do you think the people on your team members are dishonest? Are you always second guessing the decisions of the people that work for you? 

The harsh reality is that you’re the only one to blame! Let me explain.

"First Encounter - The Dryads" by Valerie Stangl Melancon (detail)

The Front End

Be sure you hire the right people. Look for people that are in alignment with your company’s core values. Hire based on values over skill set. You will probably have some basic criteria for required skills, but don’t compromise core values for the sake of a rock star resume. If your gut is telling you that someone is not a good fit, you should keep looking. This is especially true if you think they are less than honest in the interview. Don’t fool yourself into thinking “everyone exaggerates in an interview”. Everyone doesn’t! 

Whether you are an entrepreneur or a leader in a mega corporation, you need a team of people that you can trust to get the job done. Anything less hinders your ability to reach exceptional performance. If you hire someone you can’t trust, you can only blame yourself. When you realize you made a mistake in hiring, correct it quickly before it impacts the team.

Stepping In Mid Stream

So you were hired into a new role leading an existing team or got promoted into the position. Congratulations!

Spend significant time with each member of the team to understand their strengths, gaps, and fit with the company values. The time you spend getting to know the team is an investment that will pay dividends during your time in the position and beyond. The same goes here as it does when you hire, values mean much more than skill set. As soon as you decide someone is not a good fit for the team (based on objective evaluation), make changes quickly. After all, it’s your job.

Along The Way

Now you have hired the ultimate team or mad the necessary changes. Your team is ready to achieve monumental success, but there is one more aspect to consider. This aspect of trust is not about basic honesty, it is about your ability to trust the team’s decisions even when it may not align with the way “you would have done it”. This is one of the toughest parts of leadership. You have to allow team members to make their own decisions and even mistakes in the pursuit of results. When mistakes happen (and they will happen), you need to acknowledge the error and encourage your team to dust themselves off and try again. After all, these are people you TRUST… Right? Don’t get me wrong, repeated failures in the same area usually indicate it’s time for a change. However, supporting an employee that makes first or even second time mistakes can build loyalty that will make them walk through fire for you.

When a leader is harsh with an employee because the method is different from the leader’s expectations, the leader’s credibility is at stake with that individual. The team member is also de-motivated and will likely be less productive for some time after the event. This does not even begin to speak for the social network at the coffee machine and the affect on other team members.

Method vs. Results

You have a choice as a leader. You can drive the method for how your employees will achieve the desired results, or you can drive for results and allow your team to be creative with the method. I always recommend the latter. People generate ideas when they are empowered by a leader that believes in them to deliver results. Relationships based on mutual respect and trust will drive people to meet and exceed expectations.

How to win the Battle of Trust:  Hire the right people | Focus on core values over skill set | Drive for results and let the individuals determine method.

Are you winning the battle of trust? (Leave a comment)

The concept of “self management” has been around forever, but are you applying the basic principles to achieve career success in your chosen field? 

"March Standing at Season's Door" by Valerie Stangl Melancon (detail)

Take Responsibility

Entrepreneurs know this best, the core of business success is to take responsibility. That means to take responsibility for every aspect of your career: behavior, communication, successes, failures, and delivering results. The last thing that an employer or customer is looking for is excuses. Communicate failure (or pending failures) early. Be factual and avoid emotion or drama. Personally, I will readily accept failure when an employee takes full responsibility by informing me, explaining what they learned, and recommending a direction moving forward. Don’t get me wrong, nobody will accept repeating the same failure over and over again. If this happens, you may be in the wrong career.

Manage Yourself Well

You need to understand your job completely and be well aligned with the expectations of  your employer or customer. Take the time to master your core job functions. Be patient and build your skill and experience. Be willing to do more work than you are paid for, and your efforts will be noticed. Before you attempt to take on more responsibility or lighten the load of your boss, make sure that you are crushing every aspect of your current job responsibilities. You aren’t doing anybody favors by taking on a special project while your core responsibilities fall by the way side. Don’t let this happen to you! If you see that you have taken on more load than you can handle, communicate that early before it has negative impacts on the business and your personal credibility.

Everything comes down to Value

Your employer pays you and promotes you based on the value that you bring to the organization. For entrepreneurs, your customers buy your product or service based on the value that they receive. You need to understand what brings value to your employer or customer. Look at your daily efforts and ask yourself “Does this provide value to the organization or client?”. Don’t stop with asking yourself. Having a conversation with your boss (or customers) about how you can provide value will put you in the spotlight. That is a great place to be as long as your are ready to deliver high performance.

Once you understand what is valuable to your employer or customer, you can focus your efforts in the areas of highest value. Keep in mind, you will always have parts of your career that must be done and have questionable value. Use the 80/20 rule, and make sure that 80% of your efforts are in the highest value areas. A strong focus on delivering value will be noticed quickly, and it means that you are on the road to success.

Career Success Wrap Up

There are many elements (far too many to cover here) that lead to a successful career, and they vary based on the specific field. The three principles of Taking Responsibility, Managing Yourself Well, and Delivering Value are universal elements of business success. Make sure you keep these top of mind in your daily activities. Don’t forget to have fun along the way!

What has made your career successful? [Leave a comment]