Vulnerability-Based Trust

    Running a successful landscape company is not only about the right processes in estimation and production, accurate pricing, or happy clients. While these are each extremely important, the culture of your team is an extremely critical piece of the puzzle. 

    When we think of culture, sometimes we are too focused on prioritizing the happiness of our employees, without considering their fundamental needs. For example, one might think your culture will be impacted by pay raises, sharp uniforms, company parties and bonus’s. Sure, these might make your employees happy, but would they still be happy if you couldn’t afford these things? Do they actually enjoy their job? Are they committed to your company?

    These are hard question to ask! When it comes to an employee’s loyalty, with or without the flashy perks, trust is the foundation for a solid culture. The deepest form of trust is vulnerability-based trust. 

    Being vulnerable means exposing yourself to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. In the workplace, we are referring to emotional vulnerability. This looks like asking for help, speaking honestly when you do not know the answer, and owning up to your mistakes. In an organization, this looks like employees asking for help when they need it, instead of avoiding the vulnerability in fear of embarrassment, only to make things worse. It looks like honestly and ownership of their actions, without defense. 

    As Patrick Lencioni recently stated, “Vulnerability-based trust will change everything for your leadership team and for your organization. Remember, leaders go first.” The second part is important – you go first. You cannot ask vulnerability of your managers before you are willing to also be vulnerable. How can you expect your crew leads to own up to their mistakes, if you are unable to own up to your estimation mistakes that caused the team to go overbudget? 

    Once you are able to take down your defenses, even as the owner, and display vulnerability, your team will gain trust in you. Seeing the higher-ups act humbly instills trust from management to labors. With a culture of trust, your employees will open up to acts of vulnerability also. Overtime, your culture will have developed. Not only that, but you will find your teams loyalty has grown, and you will be surrounded by an organization supporting your goals and ambitions!