Leaders tend to build trust when they demonstrate loyalty to a group. This is why leaders spend a lot of time saying or doing the right thing in support of their people. However, it’s what you say in their absence that can do the most damage to trust.

What do you tell your peers or boss about your team? What do you say in the privacy of your home? Do you tell the team they’re great, and then complain to your family about them?

If you’re complaining about your team behind their back, you miss the opportunity to help them improve. Your team won’t have the chance to improve if they don’t know what you’re thinking. Worse, your true feelings about them will leak out in subtle ways that will impact how much they trust you.

You’ve got this.