7 Ingredients to Building Loyalty with Your Team.

In 2019 I did a study on what the #1 characteristic people look for in a leader and 97% people stated "Integrity". After doing further investigation I found that it really comes down to being "authentic" and without these characteristics we will almost never build loyalty with those we lead.

Why do we need to build loyalty?

Because the chances of our followers performing at their best is unlikely without it. If we want effective and predictable results from our team, we will need to create a strong foundation of loyalty through authenticity and integrity.

The first step to building loyalty with those we lead is to know what Loyalty is.

Loyalty: is a strong feeling of support or allegiance.

To have allegiance to someone is to have faithfulness in them.

So what is loyalty?

It’s is a choice to put faith in a leader’s ability to lead you.

Here's the 7 Ingredients I've found, tested, and proven that build loyalty with those we lead

1. Effort - Put great effort into your relationships.

“Leadership is not about being in charge, leadership is about taking care of those in our charge.”

- Simon Sinek

If you want to build loyalty with anyone it’s going to take effort. You will have to invest into your relationship with them before they choose be faithful to you.

Think about it; I don’t know anyone who would choose to be loyal to someone they don’t know, trust, or like.

Putting effort into building a relationship is an investment.

When you invest into something, you get a return. That return will be determined by the invested amount.

Investing into people is similar to investing into the Stockmarket. If you invest in the wrong stock, you may just lose out on your return. But if you invest in the right stock at the right time your return will be worth far more than the investment.

What happens if you invest too late, now the price is too high and you either you take the loose or be faced with, “I should’ve”.

“I should’ve invested earlier, now it’s too late.”

Just like you have to be selective with your investments into the stock market, you have to be selective with investments into your people.

My general belief is, invest something into everyone. But focus more of my efforts into the top 20% performers.

2. Empathy - Reach into their hearts.

You must be open enough to show others that it’s okay for them to be open also.

Because what holds many people back from trusting their leader, is the inability to be vulnerable with them.

Our followers are all asking themselves this question,, “Am I safe with you?” And it’s through empathy and active listening that we communicate, “You are safe with me.”

We all know when someone say’s “you can trust me” red flags start waving. So we can’t just say, “you’re safe with me.” We have to prove that to them.

By being an active listener and allowing them room to express themselves, they will begin sharing with you their heart and when someone trust you with their heart, they will trust with their loyalty.

3. Challenge - Dare them to Grow.

Thinking about those I’ve been most loyal too in my life, it’s always been people who’ve challenged me to grow, fail, and develop.

Before you can bring the best out of someone you’ve got to see the best in someone.

“Never put a limit on what you think others can do.” - Mark Cole

4. Belief - Believe they will Succeed.

And at times they will. But they are going to fail too.

We are going to make mistakes, we are going to fail. This is a growing pain. It’s unpleasant. But it’s necessary.

“Your perspective of individuals prior to them failing will largely determine how you respond to them when they fail.” - Cole A. Randall

So even in the face of the possibility of them failing, Believe in them anyways and then challenge them grow. And if they do make a mistake, show empathy.

5. Love - Loving leaders develop loyal followers

As much as people think that loving someone makes you weak, it is 1000% the most powerful way to build loyalty, to build trust, and to build a winning team.

We’ve got to get out of our insecurities and realize that love is absolutely amazing and one the best parts about being a leader.

“When you stop loving your people, do them a favor and stop leading them. Because when you stop loving your people, you’ll start manipulating them. Relationships are the foundation of leadership! I lead people because I value people. That’s where it has to start, and you have to keep coming back there!” - John C. Maxwell

6. Value - Valuable people add value to people

Oftentimes I see leaders looking for loyalty from their followers, without first extending loyalty to them.

Goethe the German philosopher once said,

“The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of the things that matter least.”

A leader shows his team that he supports them. Not just professionally but personally, and take actions to support them. He knows they will support him in return.

7. Time - Spend Quality time with your team members

I wouldn’t be where I am at today if I didn’t have great people spend time investing in me.

No one would be where they’re at today without those who invested in them. We did not make it alone and those you lead will not make it on their own.

Thinking about those who invested in you, where would you be without them?

I’ve had many leaders in my life, some good some bad. But out of all of them the ones who I respect and remember the most are those who invested their time into me.

You can be that for someone today. Invest in others, you may be surprised by what they achieve.

The 7 Loyalty Building Ingredients