You’re leading a new team and want to build trust. How do you balance authority with approachability?
Leading a new team means establishing trust while maintaining your role as a leader. Here's how you can strike the right balance:
How do you balance authority with approachability in your leadership style?
You’re leading a new team and want to build trust. How do you balance authority with approachability?
Leading a new team means establishing trust while maintaining your role as a leader. Here's how you can strike the right balance:
How do you balance authority with approachability in your leadership style?
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To build trust while balancing authority with approachability, lead by example, be transparent in your communication, listen actively to your team’s input, and provide clear expectations and guidance. At the same time, foster an open-door policy, show empathy, and create a safe space for team members to express their ideas and concerns, ensuring they feel valued and heard. #Leadership #TeamBuilding #Trust #EffectiveLeadership
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Building trust as a leader is a delicate balance of authority and approachability. Authority establishes credibility and ensures the team feels guided with confidence, while approachability fosters open communication and collaboration. By setting clear expectations and making thoughtful decisions, a leader earns respect. Simultaneously, showing empathy, listening actively, and being open to feedback creates a culture of mutual trust. Leading by example—staying firm yet flexible—demonstrates that you value both results and relationships. This balance not only strengthens team dynamics but also inspires loyalty and shared commitment to success.
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Balancing authority with approachability starts with clear communication and transparency. Sharing the vision and goals openly helps establish trust and credibility, while actively listening to the team’s concerns and ideas shows respect for their input. Leading by example ensures that the expected behaviors and work ethic are set from the top down. Maintaining professional boundaries, while also being empathetic and supportive, encourages an open, collaborative environment. This approach fosters mutual respect, allowing the team to feel valued while understanding the authority and direction provided.
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To build trust while balancing authority with approachability, lead by example, be transparent, and actively listen. For instance, when I first led a remote team, I shared my long-term vision and encouraged feedback during weekly check-ins. This openness built credibility, while my willingness to adapt based on team input fostered approachability. Balancing authority came naturally when I demonstrated the work ethic I expected from them, showing that I valued their contributions without undermining my role as a leader.
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Building trust. Knowing their aspirations and values can be the start of a relationship, and sharing your vision and what you are trying to achieve with them is a good way to establish common goals to stand together. Being present and showing appreciation for the persons is key on this matter.
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