Empowered Teams Start with U: 5 Tips to Lead with Trust
By: Neil Patrick G. Nepomuceno
At UnionBank, we believe that great leadership starts with empathy and grows through continuous learning. By embracing diverse personalities and developing trust, you’re not just managing a team—you’re helping them thrive and grow in their respective roles.
Here are 5 tips that can help you build trust and rally your team to success matter how different their personalities may be:
Lead with Empathy and Clarity
Understand what motivates each team member and communicate your goals with transparency. Empathy builds trust, while clarity aligns everyone toward a shared purpose.
TIPS:
To lead with empathy, start by actively listening during one-on-one conversations and team check-ins. Ask open-ended questions that invite your team to share their thoughts, challenges, and motivations. When communicating goals, avoid jargon and be clear about expectations, timelines, and the “why” behind decisions. Transparency builds alignment, while empathy ensures your team feels supported—not just managed.
Set Shared Goals, Celebrate Individual Wins
Unify your team around a common mission, but take time to recognize each person’s unique strengths and contributions. This fosters belonging and boosts morale.
TIPS:
Begin by co-creating team goals so everyone feels ownership of the mission. Then, make it a habit to recognize individual efforts—whether through a quick shoutout in a meeting or a personal message of appreciation. You can also rotate leadership roles in projects to give different team members a chance to shine. When people feel seen and valued, they’re more likely to stay engaged and motivated.
Encourage Open Dialogue
Create safe spaces for honest conversations. When team members feel heard and respected, collaboration becomes more natural—even across personality differences.
TIPS:
Foster a culture of openness by inviting feedback regularly and responding with curiosity rather than defensiveness. Start meetings with a quick check-in to gauge how your team is feeling, and use anonymous surveys when needed to surface honest input. Set clear norms for respectful communication and follow through on feedback to show your team that their voices matter. Open dialogue builds trust—and trust builds high-performing teams.
Adapt Your Leadership Style for each team member
Adaptive leadership shows that you value people as individuals, not just roles. The best leaders know how to meet people where they are. Take time to understand your team’s work styles and preferences—tools like personality assessments or simple conversations can help.
TIPS:
Flex your approach based on individual needs. Some thrive with autonomy, others with structure. Adjust your level of involvement based on what each person needs in order to succeed in their tasks, whether on small or big projects.
Lead with Accountability in mind
Show your team that it’s okay to make mistakes—as long as you own them. This builds a culture of trust, learning, and continuous improvement.
TIPS:
At UnionBank, we’re committed to helping leaders like you learn and grow in your careers. By embracing empathy, adaptability, and clear communication, you can turn personality diversity into a powerful asset for team success. Want more career tips to help you lead and grow? Check them out here!