Fear and Trust
In their seminal work, Driving Fear out of the Workplace, Ryan and Oesterich (1991), gave us some guidance on what team leaders, coaches, and managers can do to foster a climate of trust. Here is an edited version of some of their thoughts.
1. Listen, really listen actively, to the concerns, questions, and feelings of team members.
2. Be a role model by being open and trusting in your interactions with team members.
3. Be open to feedback about your behavior and demonstrate a willingness to change.
4. Be vigilant to the actions of others that foster mistrust and be ready to address them.
5. Be a facilitator rather than a director in meetings and other communications forums.
“Fear secretes acids, but love and trust are sweet ...