Attitude + Trust = Success

5 Minute ReadWe’ve all had those days lately. The kind where you wake up and feel like your entire world is crashing down around you. Nothing works the way it should, your plans go awry, and the last thing you want to do is deal with other people. On days like these, we walk around with a chip on our shoulder thinking, “Stay out of my way, people. Today is NOT my day!” And it’s okay to feel the way you feel. We all feel it, in some facet or another.Across the nation today, the bonds of loyalty and trust have been broken. People have shed their golden shackles and vowed never again to be deceived through blind allegiance. These lessons are being taught directly and vicariously to our children. And we’re preaching the same to our employees, whether we intend to or not. A new generation of worker is emerging out of the need for protection and safety; a new generation whose first priority is to look out for number one.We have again embarked upon another set of circumstances which has resulted in more layoffs or furloughs, and one which reinforces a lack of trust in business leaders. Employees feel misled and reluctant to rely again on the strategies companies will put into place designed to recover from this major event in history. And how do you begin to reverse the loss of trust employees have experienced?

Here’s the problem

 Perception is often reality, and it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. It’s likely you’re not quite yourself; maybe you’re frustrated, scared, or in a bad mood. And once people form an opinion about someone or something, it can be pretty difficult to get them to think differently.This is why your attitude at work can be one of the most – if not the most – telling aspects of how others in the company look at you and feel about you as a leader. Your attitude in the workplace can easily define who you are perceived to be. Unfortunately, sometimes it holds more influence than the work you actually produce.

Your attitude at work can be one of the most – if not the most – telling aspects of how others in the company look at you and feel about you as a leader.

 Think about the people you work with whom you view in a positive light. Typically, they are people who outwardly display a positive attitude. They have tendencies to take initiative. They’re reliable. And they’re probably trusted by most. That’s what we need; not only positivity, but trust.To build lasting trust, leaders must first begin by acting in a trustworthy manner.  Personal trustworthiness is the foundation, and as a person acts to build confidence, he influences others to reciprocate the cycle of trust. It begins at the top.Our attitudes and how we handle stress are typically born from a mixture of things, some of which we can’t control: a lack of trust in others, conditioning over time, and even a lifetime of personal experiences. Our own experiences shape our reaction to key moments and how we act or react to a situation.We get it. Things are hard. And changing our reactions takes time, as we have to shape our attitudes based on previous events and their results. If our reaction to an event is always negative, we tend to develop a cynical sense of life, therefore hindering the ability to trust. But if we can change our mindset to view things positively, we begin to expect a positive outcome. So, what are employees looking for to move organizations forward?

Actions which build trust.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re looking to display a stronger sense of leadership:

• Act in an ethical way—both personally and professionally. People who act unethically will suspect others are doing the same and will justify their behavior as necessary to compensate for the perceived intentions of others.
• Express transparency. Employees will not always like to hear what you have to say, but will appreciate your willingness to share the bad with the good. If there are tough times ahead, let your people know. This will give them time to adapt to upcoming changes.
• Demonstrate competence in what you do. Show people you can be a trustworthy, positive leader. And that you are able to produce agreed-upon results.
• Display compassion. Empathy can go a long way to building relationships. Put the good of the whole above your personal agenda. Concede to others when the outcome is insignificant.
• Be consistent. If someone has to guess what the outcome will be when they approach you, they may choose not to interact with you at all. Your team should have some idea of the response they will receive from an interaction with you.
• Stop keeping score. Everyone is adjusting. And people don’t like uncertainty, which can cause them to act in ways they wouldn’t normally. Don’t keep a tally of past transgressions or hold grudges when a person may have acted in a matter that you viewed as negative or untrustworthy. You may have to decide how best to work with that person, but creating a cycle of collusion uses energy that could better be used elsewhere.
• Look beyond the outcome of historical events as absolute. Granted, experience can be invaluable in developing intuition, but it can also impede growth if we use even a series of events as a concrete predictor of how things will be in the future. Even small steps can help rebuild trust once lost, but it takes courage, faith, and steadfast adherence to ethical goals.

In an era of uncertainty and change, people are looking for something to hold onto. Employees are much more inclined to be productive when they feel supported. Develop trust as a strategy with specific actions designed to build mutual loyalty. Your team will thank you for it while preparing to take on those challenges presented as we all rebuild and prepare for recovery.And finally, ask yourself how you want to be viewed. It’s important to remember that we all have to work hard to get the things we want; and keeping a positive attitude is no different. We all have things going on. We all have stress in our lives, and right now, much of it is beyond our control. But the fact is, YOU choose what ruins your day. Check your attitude several times a day. Exercise your power of choice to keep it on a positive path.Is your attitude positive, negative, or neutral? Find out here!Check out what people said about the 'Remote Work and Flexibility Survey'. The results may surprise you.