How to win your people over as a CEO

Developing a genuine trust-based relationship with your team enables better understanding and openness and improved performance.

This contribution was first featured on MaltaCEOs.mt https://maltaceos.mt/how-to-win-your-people-over-as-a-ceo/

Today more than ever, being authentic is a skill every CEO needs to master. Leaders who score highly in this skill are often described as genuine, whereas leaders low in this skill are often seen as untrustworthy.

A recent study by the Institute for Leadership and Management in conjunction with Management Today surveyed CEOs, line managers and employees to analyse the relationship with leadership and trust. The report concluded that to develop trust, senior leaders must first demonstrate their ability as leaders and secondly display high levels of integrity.

Simon Sinek in ‘Start with Why’ writes that “Leading is not the same as being the leader… Leading means that others willingly follow you – not because they have to, not because they are paid to, but because they want to.” He relates the story of Gordon Bethune, CEO of Continental Airlines, who was successful in a company turnaround, becoming ranked as one of the best companies to work for in America. “Those who lead can do so because those who follow trust that the decisions made at the top have the best interest of the group at heart… those who trust work hard because they feel like they are working for something bigger than themselves.”

Malta is known for a good work ethic however this cannot be abused of. An employee’s loyalty must not be misunderstood for trust. If employees lack the trust of their leaders this will relate to unengaged or actively disengaged employees. There is a direct link between the way employees feel and the way they perform at work.