Trust is what allows a workplace to function. When people trust their leaders, they feel safer, more energized, and more engaged with the work they are required to do. However, when strong leaders are not available, the loss of trust comes. This article provides an overview of the reasons why trust is so closely tied to leadership and a detailed explanation of what happens without trust in leadership.
1. Lack of Clear Direction Creates Confusion
People need to be led. Essentially, they need to know what the goals and priorities are and what is expected of them. If they are not told, they become lost. 43% of U.S. workers are “disengaged because they are not clear about what is expected of them.” Without guidance, teams spend days guessing what to focus on. They double-do each other’s tasks, miss deadlines, and get frustrated.
2. Communication Breakdowns Hurt Morale
Even if the message is undesirable, staff wants to know the truth. Nearly 80% of workers agree that leaders should invest more time in transparent communication. Unfortunately, when information is subpar, rumors run wild, misinterpretations run amok, and people connect the dots based on their perceptions, which are rarely correct.
On the contrary, solid leaders provide updates and prioritize the amount of time they spend listening and answering workers’ concerns every day. These characteristics come together to establish an atmosphere in which employees believe they can put their confidence.
3. Inconsistent Decisions Reduce Confidence
Employees tend to carefully watch how leaders decide on particular things. If the decision feels sporadic or poorly justified, the confidence is quickly lost. According to Deloitte, inconsistent leadership has the potential to decrease employee confidence by 35%.
Being consistent signals that one has a strong purpose and knows how to achieve it in one way or another. If a decision keeps changing without any pattern, people naturally stop following the leadership vision.
4. Poor Accountability Weakens Team Culture
Great leaders set the example by holding themselves accountable as much as they do their teams, taking ownership, and setting the parameters that others should follow.
According to Forbes, workplaces with high levels of accountability perform about 25% better overall. Trust disappears when leaders overlook issues, refuse to take ownership, or allow improper conduct to continue.
Your team members might think that certain individuals have the right to follow their own rules. Collaborative team culture must depend on responsibility at all levels, from the highest to the lowest.
5. Lack of Support Leads to Low Engagement
For employees to be at their best, you need to support them. They depend on you for direction, motivation, coaching, and resources. Gallup research indicates that employees who have supportive managers are more than 50% engaged at work.
People feel ignored and denied the opportunity to grow when support is lacking. They might spend hours wrestling with a task they could otherwise do quicker with some help.
6. Weak Leadership Decreases Organisational Stability
Without it, the trust that is a strong foundation for a relationship will break the entire organization apart if not mended. In fact, according to McKinsey, companies presented with strong leaders are three times more likely to beat their competitors.
Conversely, weak leadership leads to high turnover, subpar quality, low engagement, rivalries, and overall inconsistent performance. A leader who remains consistent and supportive through regularly communicating decisions ensures that the workplace retains some stability.
Trust Thrives When Leadership Is Strong
Trust and leadership often have a mutually beneficial relationship. A competent leader is more than a manager. They serve as the central force that maintains order, stability, and alignment within the organization. Consequently, strong leadership often fosters greater trust, and all other facets of the organization become more robust.
