New leaders often wonder where to begin.

It can all be a bit overwhelming.

Here are 3 important first steps...

1. Create rapport, then trust. We'd all love people to trust us right away, but some team members will be skeptical. They've been burned before.

   Create rapport by learning about your team members and listening. Find common ground and then use it to earn trust.

2. Understand that not everyone is like you, and that's okay. You have your own approach to your job, and it's easy to think that everyone else looks at work the same way.

   But everyone's different. Some of your team members will be motivated by achieving high performance, some will be motivated by helping others, and some will be motivated by teamwork.

   Ask good questions and listen. Look for what makes people's eyes light up and then reflect that back to them.

3. You don't have to pretend that you know everything. New leaders often stress themselves out by thinking they have to know every procedure.

   But your team members already know those things. Build solid relationships and put others in a position to show their expertise. They'll feel valued and you'll better understand their skillsets.

Recap:

No one owes you trust, but you can earn it by creating solid relationships and giving others the spotlight