How to Believe in People
Belief enables leadership. You must believe in the people you lead.
Leaders who don’t believe in people are control freaks.
Knowledge guides belief.
The more you know about the people around you, the better you can trust them.
Know what everyone on the team does well. Don’t take a broken truck to the dentist.
Know people’s capacity to rise. Put weight on people and see how they respond. Some respond positively to challenges. Others prefer stability.
Know what lights them up. Motivation is intrinsic. Monitor everyone’s energy. When you see someone go bright you learn their motivations. Give people work that energizes them.
Confidence enables belief.
Finish this sentence for everyone on the team. I’m confident _________ can _________.
Autonomy expresses belief.
How can you let people make their own decisions? Maybe their job defines the work they do, but they can find their own way to do the work.
Challenge:
Past disappointments weaken belief. You trusted people and they let you down. But you trusted the wrong people.
Strengthen your ability to believe in people by learning about them. Exercise informed belief. Blind faith is dangerous.
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What role does belief play in leadership?
More to consider:
The Secret to Bringing Out the Best in Others
Believe in People: The Vitality of Authentic Leadership
The Power Of Believing In Others
When you don’t believe in people, you don’t spend your time coaching, teaching, mentoring, and empowering people. You don’t help people become more independent and self-sufficient.
Powerful insight. In other words, when you don’t believe in people you’re an anchor.
Remove the thumbs down, fingers to big on phone was accidentally hit! Paul you always have excellent input!
Thanks Tim. I appreciate your comments.
The choice to become a Leader can be challenging yet rewarding. Take being a parents blessed with children watching them grow and become adults! So rewarding and challenging to raise them into a world with open arms to build them up and become part of a life’s journey.
I think on a business standpoint it’s important we as Leaders to be open and willing to open doors for those to follow.
Be prepared for tough decisions and lead with dignity and respect for those that we lead. Challenging them to go the extra mile and climb the next mountain.
Knowing that everyday there will be another mountain. The joy is conquering the mountains and rise to the occasion. Happy Friday enjoy your ascent.
Thanks Tim. I think learning to believe in people is one of the first mountains leaders face. When we believe in people, challenging them to rise makes sense. When we don’t, challenging them means we’re jerks.
Indeed! Challenge ourselves at the same time! Cheers