Trust And Influence Go hand In Hand

In the intricate dance of leadership, two powerful forces—trust and influence—stand as pillars that not only support but elevate each other. This blog post delves into the symbiotic relationship between trust and influence, emphasizing how trust forms the bedrock for influence, and how, in turn, influencing others is a testament to the trust placed in them.

Trust: The Bedrock for Influence

Trust is the currency of leadership. It's the intangible force that binds teams together and propels leaders to greater heights. Without trust, the foundation for influence crumbles. Trust acts as the bridge between a leader and their team. It's the unspoken agreement that each party can rely on the other, creating an environment where influence can flourish. Trust is also an emotional investment. Leaders who establish trust create a connection with their team that goes beyond the transactional, forming the basis for genuine influence.

Influence

Now let’s talk about influence.  Influence is the art of inspiring action, and it thrives where trust is abundant. A leader's ability to influence is not just a measure of their charisma; it's a reflection of the trust vested in them by their team. Influential leaders don't just talk the talk; they walk the walk. Their actions align with their words, reinforcing the trust their team places in them and amplifying their power of influence.

Influence stems from the confidence others have in a leader's decisions as well. When trust is established, team members are more likely to follow a leader's guidance, knowing it comes from a place of genuine care and expertise.

The beauty of the trust-influence dynamic lies in its reciprocity. Just as leaders need the trust of their team for effective influence, they must reciprocate that trust by acknowledging and valuing the capabilities of their team members.  Influential leaders trust their team to handle responsibilities. By delegating tasks and projects, they empower their team members, demonstrating confidence in their abilities.  This does not mean that the leaders do this blindly, but having a proven track record from their team will enable this to be a possibility.

Trusting team members also fosters an environment where creativity and innovation thrive. Influential leaders inspire by giving their team the freedom to explore new ideas, knowing that trust underpins the journey towards success.

In the world of leadership, trust and influence form a dynamic duo that transforms ordinary teams into exceptional ones. Trust is the fertile soil in which the seeds of influence grow, and influential leaders reciprocate by trusting in the potential and abilities of their team. As you navigate the landscape of leadership, remember that building trust takes time, but its impact on influence is immeasurable. Cultivate trust, wield influence responsibly, and watch as your leadership journey one of mutual trust and inspired influence.

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Online Membership Site 

The Sales Process Uncovered Book 

7 Ways To Build Trust In A Team

In this blog post, we'll explore seven exciting ways to build trust in a team that are a way to build connection and influence with your team members while doing things that are fun as well as making people rely on each other.  In this post we will have seven ideas for building trust and connection with your team.

The first idea we will use is escape rooms.  Escape rooms are not just a thrilling pastime; they also serve as an excellent platform for team-building. These immersive experiences require participants to rely on each other's strengths, communicate seamlessly, and trust their teammates' instincts. The shared adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment after successfully escaping create lasting bonds among team members.

There's something magical about bonding over a barbecue. The sizzle of the grill, the aroma of delicious food, and the casual atmosphere create the perfect setting for team members to relax and connect on a personal level. Sharing a meal fosters camaraderie and trust, breaking down professional barriers and allowing individuals to see their colleagues in a different light.

Regularly eating lunch together may seem like a simple routine, but it can significantly impact team dynamics. Breaking bread creates an informal space for team members to share experiences, discuss ideas, and develop a deeper understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. This familiarity builds trust and encourages open communication.  I have personally watched purchasing groups that were each day sit together and laugh, enjoy stories, and build a working family through these experiences.

Acknowledging and appreciating individual contributions is vital for team morale and trust. Implementing a kudos awards system, where team members recognize and commend each other's efforts, fosters a positive and supportive atmosphere. Publicly celebrating achievements not only boosts confidence but also reinforces the idea that each member's role is crucial to the team's success.  This actually does not have to be done by the leader, but by other team members recognizing their team members to highlight and lift others up.

In addition to internal recognition, acknowledging team achievements in a public forum strengthens trust. Whether through company-wide announcements, newsletters, or team meetings, highlighting successful escape room escapades and collaborative victories builds a sense of pride and solidarity. Public recognition reinforces the idea that trust and teamwork are core values within the organization.

Consistency is the glue that holds a team together. Establishing reliable processes, communication channels, and team roles creates a sense of stability. When team members can depend on each other to consistently deliver quality work and support, trust naturally flourishes.  It is just like when you show up to any Chick-Fil A restaurant and you have the same high level of service.  You can’t help but go there while traveling and abandoning my diet!

While escape rooms are a fantastic team-building activity, diversifying your experiences can deepen trust. Engaging in a variety of events, whether charity initiatives, workshops, or outdoor activities, broadens the team's horizons and provides opportunities for members to showcase different skills and qualities. These shared experiences strengthen bonds and create a well-rounded, trusting team.

By incorporating these seven strategies – from immersive escape adventures to sizzling BBQ gatherings – your team will not only conquer, but also build lasting bonds that extend far beyond. As you navigate the twists and turns of your business needs remember that trust is the ultimate key to unlocking your team's full potential.

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Online Membership Site 

The Sales Process Uncovered Book 

Why You Need To Build Relationships With Your Peers Or Teammates

In today's interconnected and fast-paced work environments, building strong relationships with your peers or teammates is a critical factor for personal and professional success. These relationships serve as a valuable board of advisors, facilitating idea-sharing, enhancing project speed, and ultimately contributing to your overall effectiveness and success. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of building relationships with your peers or teammates, focusing on how they can become your trusted advisors, accelerate project timelines, and elevate your influence within the organization.

The Board of Advisors: Bouncing Ideas and Gaining Insights: When you foster relationships with your peers or teammates, you create a network of trusted advisors. These individuals can provide diverse perspectives, industry insights, and valuable feedback. Utilize this board of advisors to bounce ideas off them, seek their input, and gain fresh perspectives on your projects or challenges. Engaging in open discussions and collaborative brainstorming sessions allows you to leverage the collective intelligence and experience of your peers, leading to more innovative and refined solutions. This active exchange of ideas not only strengthens your projects but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth within the team.

Accelerating Project Speed through Collaboration: Building relationships with your peers or teammates is crucial for achieving efficient project execution. When you establish a strong rapport with your colleagues, it becomes easier to communicate, delegate tasks, and align on project objectives. Collaboration becomes seamless, reducing unnecessary delays and streamlining workflow. By leveraging the collective strengths and expertise of your teammates, you can identify potential roadblocks earlier, proactively find solutions, and expedite project timelines. Strong relationships promote effective teamwork, ensuring that projects progress smoothly and are completed more swiftly.

The Influence Advantage for Success: Developing influential relationships within your team or organization is a catalyst for personal and professional success. When you cultivate positive connections and earn the respect of your peers, you naturally gain influence and the ability to lead. Influential individuals can drive decision-making, garner support for initiatives, and inspire others to perform at their best. By building strong relationships, you enhance your credibility and trustworthiness, which enables you to navigate organizational dynamics effectively and rally support for your ideas. The influence you wield within your team contributes to your overall success, propelling you towards achieving your goals.

Building meaningful relationships with your peers or teammates is a cornerstone of success in the modern workplace. Cultivating these connections allows you to tap into a valuable board of advisors, where ideas can be shared, refined, and elevated. Collaborating effectively with your colleagues accelerates project speed, ensuring timely completion and superior results. Furthermore, strong relationships grant you the advantage of influence, enabling you to make an impact within your team or organization. Embrace the power of building relationships, and unlock the vast potential for personal and professional growth, enhanced project speed, and overall success. Remember, the strength of your network can shape the trajectory of your career, so invest time and effort in nurturing these valuable relationships.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

The Sales Process Online Membership Site 

https://www.kevinsidebottom.com/pricing-page

The Sales Process Uncovered Book 

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8XUM4QL2RC6M&keywords=the+sales+process+uncovered&qid=1673274567&sprefix=the+sales+process+uncovered%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

Importance of Leadership In The Workplace

Leadership is a critical aspect of any workplace. It sets the tone for the company's culture, influences employee engagement and productivity, and impacts the overall success of the organization. While there are many leadership styles, one that has gained popularity in recent years is Servant Leadership. In this blog post, we will explore why leadership is important in the workplace and why Servant Leadership is key from an employee's perspective.

Leadership is crucial in setting the tone for the company's culture. Leaders are responsible for creating a positive work environment that fosters collaboration, communication, and innovation. A good leader can inspire employees to work towards a common goal, promoting a sense of community within the organization. Leaders who foster an environment of trust and respect can help employees feel valued and motivated to give their best effort.

Leadership style can have a significant impact on employee engagement and productivity. Studies have shown that employees who feel valued and supported by their leaders are more likely to be engaged in their work, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. Conversely, a negative leadership style can lead to disengaged employees, which can result in decreased productivity, high turnover rates, and a negative impact on the company's bottom line.

Servant Leadership is a leadership style that focuses on serving others first, rather than the traditional top-down approach. This style of leadership encourages leaders to put the needs of their employees first, creating a culture of service, empowerment, and collaboration. From an employee's perspective, this leadership style can be beneficial in many ways.

Servant Leadership promotes employee engagement and empowerment. When leaders prioritize the needs of their employees, it can create a sense of ownership and responsibility for their work. Employees who feel empowered to make decisions and contribute to the company's success are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work.

Second, Servant Leadership can lead to increased trust and respect between leaders and employees. When leaders demonstrate a genuine interest in their employees' well-being, it can create a culture of trust and respect. Employees are more likely to feel valued and supported when they believe their leaders care about their success.

Servant Leadership can create a positive work environment that promotes collaboration and innovation. When leaders prioritize the needs of their employees, it can encourage collaboration and teamwork. Employees who feel supported and empowered are more likely to work together, share ideas, and innovate to achieve shared goals.

In conclusion, leadership is a critical aspect of any workplace. It sets the tone for the company's culture, influences employee engagement and productivity, and impacts the overall success of the organization. From an employee's perspective, Servant Leadership can be key in creating a positive work environment that fosters engagement, empowerment, and collaboration. By prioritizing the needs of their employees, leaders can create a culture of service and support that can lead to increased trust, respect, and ultimately, success.

Have a great week.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

The Sales Process Uncovered Membership Page

What Is The Most Important Leadership Skill?

I am often asked what about the most important leadership skill.  People want to know the one thing they need to know to be a successful leader.  This is about the time that I burst their bubble about leadership.

I tell them that there is no one thing that makes you a great leader.  There are quite a few things that we need to be able to do and likely we will not be able to be amazing at all of them. 

One area that we can work on to increase our leadership capacity is learning how to communicate effectively.  That is right communication is a key component to leadership.  We can be brilliant at a specific topic, but if we can communicate it in a way that everyone understands it then we are really not that smart. The best leaders can take a complex topic and communicate it in a way that a middle school student can understand it.  That is the sign of a great leader and intelligence.

The first thing we can do is not use very complex vocabulary (words) to break down a topic.  We don’t need to use $100 words when a 50-cent word will work just fine.  Far too often leaders use these large words that confuses others.  This makes them think they are more powerful because they use these large words, but if people don’t understand, how are they going to move forward?  People need to understand more than we need to see ourselves as brilliant.

The other thing we can do is tell stories.  Ever sit around a camp fire and listen to stories?  We love them.  Sitting hearing someone older tell stories about something and the lesson that was learned is how we as a culture have learned since the beginning of time.  Learning how to communicate and tell stories to help others understand the topic is how we relate to others.  Similar experiences that people have in a story will actually build influence and trust.  Learn how to tell stories and you will be able to bring the audience in and teach them.  A great resource of doing this is Storyworth by Mathew Dicks.  It is a great resource to learning how to tell stories. 

Body language is also key in communicating.  That’s right body language.  90% of all communication is nonverbal.  That means our posture, facial expressions, and how we move communicate more than the words that come out of our mouths.  Far too often leaders stand behind a podium that creates a barrier between them and the audience. 

We need that energy if we are going to make points land so get out from behind a podium.  Take an improv class to learn how to make a point land.  Performers know how to make a point land and how to create climactic moments with their body movements and vocal tones.  Being able to help people understand the point and the excitement at the correct time is key.

There are degrees on communication because it is such a complex topic.  We don’t have to major in communication to be able to communicate well, but if we use some of the tips above we can greatly impact our ability to communicate effectively with those around us making us better leaders.

I hope this read has helped you and if you want to learn more about communication in leadership check out my youtubechannel for some videos on leadership and communication.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

The Sales Process Uncovered Membership Page

How To Build Work Relationships

Today with remote workers, the workforce changing over in record numbers, and engagement extremely low, we need to learn how to build networks in our own companies.  Different parts of the organization are located all over the world.  We need to know and build relationships with other parts of our organization while we are not able to do that face to face. 

How do we as managers of new individuals, new employees, new teammates grow relationships with others inside of the organization.  It’s complicated, and will take time, but it can be done if we are intentional about it.

This is the time that we have to put on the sales hat and think about how we grow influence and trust with others.  That is right, we need to think like sales professionals.  No not an evil sales person that does not care about customers and just cares about golf and selling products.  The good sales professional is the one that cares about understanding those they interact with.  They want to serve those they interact with so that they can move forward.

These sales professionals actually focus on the relationship and how they will be able to help their customers win and be the Hero of their own story.  That is the type of hat I am saying we need to wear.

The first part in building relationships is to learn and understand the individual that we are coming in contact with.  We want them to understand that they are heard and known.  We do not want to treat them as a commodity, but as an individual.  Someone that matters.

That’s what we all want right?  We want to know that we are known, heard, and that we matter.

We need to focus on others in the same way.  We have needs, but we really need to work for them an serve them if we want to obtain our better way forward.  We need to take the focus off ourselves and focus on learning about them. 

See the others we work with have situations, issues, and ramifications that if not fixed will result in poor performance, disengagement, apathy, and likely them leaving for another job.  If we can create a culture of helping each other and learning about each other.

When others know that we are not just trying to use them then we will build trust and out of that we get relationships.  That is right we build trust and relationships when we build influence with others.  Businesses move on trust and we need this if we are going to build relationships. 

Today in business we need to make sure that we are going out of our way to build relationships if we are going to move forward in business. If we do this, that we will have a better quality of life as well as success in business.

Focus on putting on that sales hat and building relationships and so we can succeed with others. 

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

The Sales Process Uncovered Membership Page

Three Questions To Help Us With Others

Do I like you?

Do I trust you?

How can you Help me?

These three questions are asked in our subconscious every time we interact with someone.  Our bodies are hardwired to want to know if we like, trust, and can be helped by the other person.  These questions have been embedded into our survival since the beginning of mankind.   We also are programmed to know if we are safe in an environment, or if we need to run (fight or flight response).  Think about that when you are in the grocery line and someone coughs…

In business, if we are not answering these questions for our customers then we are not helping our customers.  It’s about answering these questions that gets us into meetings to discuss larger topics that the customer needs answers to.  They need us to help them get to a better place.  If they didn’t need us then we would not be in the conversation. 

The great thing that we have going for us if they are interacting with us, then they are actively searching for solutions. Even if they don’t currently know it yet!  That is right sometimes the customer does not know what they need before they meet with us.  We need to study them and their needs so that we can support them with the best option available to them.

Have you ever been talking to someone about a topic and a great idea pops into your head?  Most of the time though we forget about these ideas 15 minutes after we have thought about them.  The same thing happens with our customers when we are talking with them.  When they do this, we need to take notes and keep asking deeper questions.  At the end of our time, we need to summarize the major topics and see which ones the customer really wants to dive deeper into for the next conversation?

Now for an exercise.  I want you to sit back and think of an interaction with a recent customer that did not buy from you and ask the three questions from the customer’s point of view: Do I like you?, Do I trust you?, and how can you help me? During that interaction, where could you have done something more that would have likely resulted in an opportunity? What might you have missed answering for the customer out of the three questions?  Chances are we get comfortable with customers and our sales process and we forget the most crucial buying decision “us” that the customer has to decide on.

In the coming weeks we will dive deeper into each of the three questions, but for this week I want you to ask those three questions at each interaction.  You don’t have to be selling them something either.  It could be a family member, neighbor, coworker, mail carrier, etc.  Focus on answering each of those three questions to the best of your ability, even if you are talking to them while in quarantine via phone call, or web meetings.

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lWIVasmkFsoYL4h0AqIZgH6LC3qaw_gI/view?usp=sharing – client profile sheet

https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/5AF12 - Sales Process Uncovered Online Training

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/68N10 - Trustworthy Online Training