In our modern world, trust is a word which seems to grow farther and farther from the leadership we see in the public eye. Trust, however, is the most critical factor in the strong, effective, and empathic leadership that will help you to lead your district.
Why does trust matter so much? As a volunteer leader, there's only one reason people follow you: trust. When your actions demonstrate that you are worthy of trust, you'll find it's easier to recruit team members who want to support you.
How, exactly, does one demonstrate trustworthiness? Much of this goes back to our Toastmasters core values of Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence. If your actions are consistently demonstrating Integrity - doing the right thing and keeping your word, Respect - treating others with courtesy and listening to them, Service - willing help and support where it's needed, and Excellence - doing your best in all things, you'll quickly find that you're demonstrating this automatically.
Giving trust is another important way you can use this quality as a leader. If you've ever been micromanaged, you've already learned the flip side of this quality. Trust, on the other hand, often inspires team members to do their best, and allows them to bring forward their own ideas with the confidence that they'll be honestly heard and assessed. As a leader, this gives you a team that doesn't hesitate to come to you with their thoughts, and willingly gives their greatest efforts.
How will you know if you're a trusted leader? There are many ways, but team members who voluntarily approach you for help or with ideas, individuals who ask to be on your team, and show up to meetings are all good clues that you're achieving this.
It's not enough simply believe that you're trusted. The real test comes in how your behaviour speaks to those around you. If you're not certain, this is a great time at the start of the year to look at your actions and try to see what others see. Consulting with a friend or mentor might also be of value here.