The next step to building and maintaining trust is to create and execute a relationship building strategy. As I have often pointed out in seminars, organizational change is the sum of individual change. Yet, none of us work alone. We are always working in, with and through relationships. Therefore, organizational change is really the sum of relational change.
When I no longer see or frame you up as “the other”, i.e. us vs. them in the dualistic sense, and instead see and frame you up as part of “us”, i.e. we are on the same side or team, then we can begin to trust each other.
The best leaders are social change or relational change strategist. The way they do this is through creating strategy and social dialogue within safe relational spaces. In the world of fund raising, I have learned from professionals that friend-raising always comes before fund-raising. In the world of trust building and trust maintaining, relationship raising always comes before planning and the execution of a plan.
So, what does this look like in a mostly digital connected time period?
When I listen to people in leadership and management positions who grasp the question, they tell me it is choosing to make one to one connections with a wide diversity of individuals. One leader told me he is routinely calling all 48 people downline from him to visit and ask a series of questions. Mostly, he just wants to listen and learn what they are seeing, feeling and experiencing. This helps him discern whether or not there is clarity or lack of clarity about focus and goals. Then, he can build strategic level trust in the areas where relationships are strained or unclear.
This week, become a relational change strategist and build a plan to reach out and connect with more people. Then, you will know where to focus your trust building activities.
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