Some partners will complement your work ethic and some will be challenging to work with. Either way, it is important to trust their process while communicating on budgets and deadlines that need to be met. Everyone has a different style. If you give people what they need, they will give you want you want. Speak to them in their style. Not your own.
Time is of the essence in construction. The more time spent on communication issues, the more money and time is wasted on something that could have been avoided with a simple conversation.
SEVEN KEYS TO EARNING TRUST
- Deserving confidence
- Doing what you say you will do (being dependable)
- Being approachable and friendly (people trust leaders they like).
- Showing support for your team members, even when they make mistakes.
- Balancing the need for results with consideration of others and their feelings.
- Working hard to win over people by being respectful of their ideas and perspectives.
- Ensuring that your words and actions match. Not just some of the time—all the time
SEVEN KEYS TO BUILDING TRUST
- Recognize that building trust takes hard work – It doesn’t just happen. Leaders need to be Proactive.
- Be honest and supportive – Even when it’s difficult, tell the truth and not just what you think people want to hear. Understand what employees need to know and communicate facts while being considerate of their effort and sensitive to their feelings.
- Be quiet sometimes – Let silence do the heavy lifting. Actively listen and check for understanding by paraphrasing what you’ve heard
- Be consistent – Keeping commitments must be the essence of your behavior, in all relationships, day after day and year after year.
- Model the behavior you seek – The culture of an organization models the leader’s behavior, which influences employee action and has the potential to drive their results
- Build in accountability –When you and other leaders acknowledge your mistakes as well as successes, employees see you as credible and will follow your lead
- Draw the line against gossip – Nothing kills trust more than gossip. Gossip is someone who talks about someone else’s private or personal business.
