Whether you are managing up, down or side wise... trust remains the answer.
Managing up:
Every week I report to my boss who is a VP in a headquarter somewhere in the US, far from Massachusetts where I live and work. The guy is a very good manager, experienced and business oriented. I have one hour where my team and I present our status and our weekly progress. I am a voice on the phone, and a few slides on a screen. Just put yourself in my bosses shoes: If you don't trust the voice, or think that the presented data is biased it can be hell. You will be trying to catch me, you will be double checking the data and you will end up doing my job yourself... hell for you and me isn't it?
Managing side wise and managing down:
Whether it's collaborating, directing or coaching... with no trust neither are effective. I remember getting a new project that was already underway... and I had to replace a charismatic program manager! Ouch! Having observed his project from the side, I had my own ideas on what he was doing wrong... I was younger and impatient then, and I started implementing change before building trust. BIG MISTAKE! Not many followed my lead. Why would anyone follow the new guy?
One advice I can give with confidence:
Trust is the most valuable asset a manager has....
Trust me!
Tips:
1 - Everyone has a different starting point, but be assured that everyone is continuously checking you and measuring your say/do ratio.
2 - Younger people seem to be more forgiving and experienced people more skeptical.
3 - Think of trust as a game:
One mistake and you lose many trust points; one success and you gain one.
4 - Building trust is a long game and the game never ends... so be ready to walk the talk!
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