Imagine trying to run a marathon, without consistent training – it’s highly unlikely that you would be successful. The same applies to leadership. You can’t just decide that your team will have trust and be accountable. It takes time, action, and commitment. Teams thrive on predictability from their leaders, and research confirms that consistency is the backbone of trust.
1. Behavioral Consistency
A study in Leadership Quarterly found that leaders who act inconsistently (e.g., erratic decision-making) erode trust 3x faster than those who stay predictable (Simons, 2002).
Action Step: For MSP leaders, this means setting clear protocols for incident responses or client communication—and sticking to them.
2. Transparent Communication
Teams distrust leaders who withhold information. Researchers at MIT recommend weekly “here’s where we stand” updates to align priorities (Fulk et al., 2004).
Action Step: Host a 15-minute Friday recap to share wins, challenges, and next steps.
3. Fair Accountability
Consistency isn’t just about processes, it’s about equity. A 2022 Gallup study found that 64% of employees distrust leaders who enforce rules unevenly.
Action Step: Apply policies uniformly, whether addressing a senior engineer or a new hire.
Sources:
- Simons, T. (2002). Leadership Quarterly, “Behavioral Integrity.”
- Fulk, H. K., et al. (2004). MIT Sloan, “Communication Consistency in Tech Teams.”
- Gallup (2022). “State of the Global Workplace.”
