3Pillar CEO David DeWolf Article on Regaining Employee Trust in Fortune Magazine

Fortune Magazine recently published an article from 3Pillar CEO David DeWolf outlining steps on how to regain the trust of employees. In the article, David relates his experience working through a time when blocked information flow was stemming from a lack of trust in management, including in himself.

Among the different techniques used to reestablish relationships within the team, David highlights the necessity for a safe environment within the organization. In his experience, he had to prove to the team that he was there to not admonish them, but work with the team toward a solution. By doing so, David rebuilt the confidence his team had in him, which allowed them to effectively work together again.

David also advocates for visible vulnerability in leadership. “Trust is developed slowly, and incrementally, as individuals take risks, put themselves out there and are rewarded for doing so. To start the cycle, you must initiate the process,” David writes. Team members cannot develop confidence in their own development process as an employee if their leaders are not also doing so.

This article was written by David in response to the question “How do you build trust with your employees?” posed by the Leadership Insider network. The Leadership Insider network is an online community at Fortune Magazine where some of the most thoughtful and influential people in business contribute answers to timely questions about careers and leadership.

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MORE FROM 3PILLAR CEO DAVID DEWOLF

If you’re interested in reading more from 3Pillar CEO David DeWolf, you can read his Leadership Insider posts on Fortune.com. He also blogs regularly at DavidDeWolf.com and tweets from @DDeWolf.