Muses parade 2014 (photo by Carlie Kollath Wells, New in NOLA)
You’re at Muses.You’ve never received one of their coveted, glittery shoes. Then, you make eye contact with one of the riders on the float. This is it. Your moment. You’re getting that shoe. All of a sudden, they’re gone, and the child on the ladder next to has your shoe. How dare that child take your shoe. Faith officially crushed. (But not really. That child deserved it. Probably).
Faith is represented by green in the Mardi Gras color palette, and unlike Mardi Gras decor filled with purple green and gold, faith can be hard to come by. In the workplace. we’ve all been there. You put your faith in a co-worker when you’re working on a project or trying to meet a deadline, and it falls through. Or maybe you run into some roadblocks and end up losing some faith and trust from your co-workers. In any case, there are always actions you can take to build that faith back up in you and your work. Here’s how:
1. If You Say It, Do it.
Before you make any verbal commitments to a project or assignment, make sure you have the capacity to complete it. By agreeing to tasks you have zero time for, you’re setting yourself up for stress and potentially a rushed, mediocre result. Trust must be earned, and if you’re confident and clear about your timelines, it’ll ensure that you are managing your time wisely and performing to high standards.
2. Be a Listener.
If you want your co-workers to trust you, you also have to trust them. Respect is a foundation of trust, and by opening up to other’s ideas, opinions, and constructive criticisms will make you a better co-worker—one they can trust to go to with their idea and have faith that you’ll receive it with respect.
3. Don’t micromanage.
If you’re a manager, learning to have faith in your staff can have its growing pains—maybe you’re skeptical of a new hire or a staff member slips up. In some cases, a watchful eye is necessary short-term to make sure that employee gets back on track. However, the keyword is short-term, or you’ll slip into the dreaded micromanagement territory. If you’re micromanaging your employees, you’re basically saying you don’t fully trust them to do their job and put forth their ideas. This type of faith-deficient management is notorious for being unproductive and difficult to work under, so try and maintain the appropriate boundaries.
Even the little things, like being on time for meetings, can go a long way in building trust and faith with your co-workers. And if you aren’t sure, just ask. Your co-workers are your teammates, and a team environment should be an honest and open one where all members have faith in one another and hold each other accountable.
These tips might not help you on the parade route, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying. So, have some faith in yourself. Get back up on that ladder. Crack open another cold one, and give the best “WOOOO!”’ you’ve got and go get that shoe.