The Key to Building Trust?
Can I let you in on a little secret?
Most of my blogs are inspired by emails that I first share with my team. Each week, I write an email to my company sharing what’s on my mind.
Sometimes it’s personal.
Sometimes it’s encouraging.
And sometimes it’s brutally honest about where we’re falling short as a team.
But it’s always one thing: vulnerable.
Why? Because information must flow in an organization. Without it, trust breaks down, and innovation grinds to a halt.
This concept was echoed this week’s LeadrPulse Podcast episode. Nick Mehta, CEO of Gainsight, joins me to share how he fosters trust with his team of over 700 employees.
Come on, if he can do it with a team of that size, we can all be challenged to step up.
Psst... one of his tips is a weekly email to his staff—just like I mentioned above.
Nick has won numerous awards for his culture and leadership. If you’re ready to level up, you won’t want to miss his advice.
The main message?
If you want a healthy company with high engagement and retention, lead with vulnerability. Take the time to connect with your team.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Share your challenges and lessons learned: Let your team see your growth. It creates a safe space for them to grow alongside you. Plus, when your team understands how you’re thinking through the organization’s challenges, they’re more likely to buy into your decisions and rally behind them.
2. Be consistent: Whether it’s a weekly email, a short video, or a quick update in an all-hands meeting meeting, regular communication builds trust and maintains alignment.
3. Ask for feedback: Make it clear you’re open to hearing from your team. Leadership is a two-way street, and you never know what incredible ideas might surface when you foster open communication.
The format doesn’t matter—what matters is that your team hears from you, so they know it’s safe to communicate back.
By the way, this concept also translates to your relationship with your customers. Want to hear how? Check out what Nick shares about staying close to his customers for more effective decision-making.
And if you’re thinking, “I don’t have time for this,” here’s a spicy reminder from Jason M. Lemkin, CEO of SaaStr:
“You don't have time. This is true. The thing is, you also don't not have time. 🌶️”
So, where can you face the uncomfortable and lead with vulnerability this week?
Remember, you don’t have to be the leader to be a leader.
Catch the full interview with Nick here.
Thanks for reading,
MT