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Creating a Climate for Trust
Only 22 percent of America's population
expressed confidence in organized religion's leadership. This
figure, reported in The Day America Told the Truth by James
Patterson and Peter Kim, represents a 55 percent drop from 1974
to 1989. George Barna's recent research is slightly more favorable
yet it reveals a decided decline in people's confidence in church
leadership.
Dwight Eisenhower said, "In order to be a
leader [a person] must have followers. And to have followers,
[a person] must have their confidence" (Great Quotes
from Great Leaders, Peggy Anderson, ed.; Lombard: Great Quotations,
1989).
Creating a climate for trust is the foundation
for effectiveness in any organization. When trust is weak, the organization
is ready to self-destruct. Trust is a primary component of a healthy
and effective church.
Too frequently, however, trust is destroyed----intentionally
or unintentionally. When trust begins to wane, misunderstandings
and misrepresentations abound. People become suspicious, ignore
each other, and play mind games in relationships. Lack of trust
leads them to be afraid or angry at others. Then they disguise,
distort, or ignore facts, feelings, or conclusions. When they don't
trust their leader, they will refuse or resist his influence while
insulating themselves from him. All this spells disaster for the
leader and for the organization.
A leader's behavior is the most critical
factor in building a climate of trust in any organization. Everyone
becomes important, and everyone becomes a star when leadership is
able to build a climate of trust.
Five characteristics of leaders who build
a climate of trust are:
RESPECT
Trust builds when people know they are valued for who they are
and their strengths. Too often leaders focus only on others' weaknesses.
To respect others is to focus on their strengths. Show that you
respect others by sincerely and publicly recognizing their strengths
and contributions.
COMMUNICATION
Trust is developed through open and honest communication. Trust
exists when leaders are vulnerable to those led. Trusting someone
results in interdependence on others.
Leaders often find it difficult to open up
to this degree. The fear of getting hurt often keeps people from
developing trusting relationships in which they are significantly
influenced. A leader can provide a secure climate in which people
may communicate their thoughts and feelings openly, even if they
are negative.
When leadership is wisely transparent and
open, people are more likely to feel comfortable communicating in
the same way. Trust increases because each person has a better understanding
of what others think and feel----with fewer secrets and less fear.
SENSITIVITY
Being sensitive to people as they grow through the ups and downs
of life increases trust. Each person faces life from a different
perspective. Leaders need to allow people the freedom to fail and
grow. A sensitive leader is patient with others, trying to understand
what is going on and how to help.
HONESTY
This is often the most difficult element in building a climate
of trust. Leaders who keep their word, follow through on commitments,
and are truthful help to increase the climate of trust. An honest
leader doesn't mask real feelings and emotions, but manages them
properly. Honesty suffers when a leader is too concerned about reputation
or image. Honesty also suffers when keeping peace is more important
than dealing with critical issues. (This only leads to greater misunderstanding
and conflict later on.) Leaders who are honest with themselves and
others build a climate of trust.
PATIENCE
All relationships go through cycles of stress and rest----tension
and open confrontation, harmony and peace. Conflict is a natural
and necessary part of any relationship. Time is also needed to allow
the relationship to grow into the next level or develop into the
next stage. Leaders are often confronted with changing relationships
with their people. Sometimes a leader pours himself into a person
only to be deeply hurt by something that person says or does. Patience
allows the relationship to grow and heal. Leaders who understand
and are patient with these relational cycles provide the fertile
soil for trust to grow.
Building a climate of trust is delicate and
demanding. Trust is a fragile element in relationships and does
not come easily or quickly. A person tends to withhold trust until
he feels safe and respected in the relationship. He expects others
to prove themselves before he trusts them. Once gained, trust unleashes
all the power and potential of people working together in ministry
and brings God's blessing and anointing.
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