Be careful what you say...

Trust comes from dependability and reliability.

·      Your word should be your bond.

·      Only make promises you can keep.

 

Good leaders spend a lot of their time walking around and interacting with their employees. That style often increases the number of interactions with their employees and the opportunity to have meaningful dialogue. These interactions are great and often result in some kind of promised follow-up. What to the leader might seem a casual conversation, to an employee is a commitment. Leaders, like politicians, often make broad statements intended to make everyone feel good, but employees, like constituents, tend to interpret statements like these in ways that are most favorable to their way of thinking. It's important to choose your words carefully to convey exactly and only what you mean. Don't shy away from these kinds of interactions but be mindful of their potential importance to others. Honesty, clarity, and follow through are all key to positive employee relations, and they all help build the kind of trust necessary for those good employee relations. Don't miss an opportunity like this by saying things you don't mean or can't deliver. Only make promises that you can keep today.

 

Ann Marie Aguilar (40-something):  American architect who oversees the day-to-day activities of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) across the EMEA region. IWBI promotes a people-first approach to buildings, organizations, and communities.