Servant LeadershipSample

Have you ever worked for someone you didn’t trust? Did they seem to trust you? Were they overly controlling, demonstrating a lack of trust, or were they so hands-off that they failed to manage at all? There should be a happy medium; in the military, we refer to this as the "trust but verify" concept.

The idea is simple: give your team members the space they need to perform their tasks without micromanaging every detail. Share your intent, provide guidance, and check in periodically to ensure everything is on track. If you feel the need to control every aspect as a leader, it often indicates a lack of trust in your team. This not only leads to burnout for you, but it also undermines your team's effectiveness.

However, trusting your team starts with trusting yourself. If you have invested in your self-development, you are likely to have confidence in your own decisions. This self-trust is crucial. If you don’t believe in your ability to make the right choices, your team will notice, which can diminish their confidence in you and lead to your mistrust of their abilities. Building solid, lasting trust can be challenging, but losing it is remarkably easy.

The importance of trust and respect is underscored in Psalm 9:10:

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (NIV)

The Lord remains the same; He is fair yet just. To be an effective leader, you must maintain a reputation of respect, honor, and fairness. While it may take time to build such a reputation, fostering an understanding that trust and professionalism are the foundation of your team will position you all to make a significant impact in the world.

Regardless of whether you hold a formal leadership position, it’s essential to reflect on whether your actions and words demonstrate trust in others. Ask God to reveal how you may be hindering your team’s progress. We recognize that problematic employees exist, and not everyone may be deserving of trust. Therefore, it may be necessary to have difficult conversations to guide your team in the right direction.