Leadership Behavior Influences Relational Trust, Cohesion, and Inclusion Among LGBT Personnel
What is Leadership Behavior?
Leadership behavior refers to how leaders interact with their subordinates and colleagues. It involves their actions, decisions, attitudes, and communication style. Leaders are role models for their teams, and they set the tone for team culture and expectations. Effective leadership behaviors foster trust, cohesion, and inclusion among team members. These include being authentic, consistent, transparent, supportive, inclusive, collaborative, empowering, accountable, and decisive. Leaders who display these behaviors create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, heard, and supported.
Some leadership behaviors can negatively impact relational trust, cohesion, and inclusion. This article will explore how leadership behavior influences relational trust, cohesion, and inclusion among lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) personnel.
How Does Leadership Behavior Impact Relational Trust?
Relational trust between leaders and followers is crucial for a healthy workplace culture. Trust helps build strong relationships, encourage collaboration, promote innovation, and enhance productivity. Unfortunately, many LGBT employees experience distrust in their workplaces due to discrimination, harassment, exclusion, and microaggressions. When leaders exhibit prejudicial attitudes and behaviors toward LGBT individuals, it undermines trust.
Making derogatory comments about sexual orientation or gender identity can erode trust. Also, failing to address issues of homophobia or transphobia can lead to mistrust and resentment among LGBT staff.
How Does Leadership Behavior Affect Cohesion Among LGBT Personnel?
Cohesiveness refers to the degree of unity, solidarity, and bonding among team members. Leadership behavior affects team cohesion by creating or destroying psychological safety, mutual support, and collective responsibility. When leaders demonstrate inclusive behaviors, such as supporting diverse perspectives, embracing different identities, and promoting shared goals, it strengthens cohesion.
When leaders are intolerant of diversity, disrespectful of differences, or exclude certain groups, it damages cohesion.
If a leader refuses to allow an openly gay employee to bring their partner to social events, it may create tension and division within the team.
How Does Leadership Behavior Promote Inclusion Among LGBT Personnel?
Inclusive leadership practices promote equal opportunities for all employees regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This includes providing equitable resources, opportunities, and recognition, valuing diverse voices and experiences, and fostering a sense of belonging. Leaders who engage in inclusive behaviors build a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. On the contrary, exclusive behaviors create an environment where some individuals feel excluded, undervalued, or marginalized. Examples include not recognizing LGBT holidays or events, ignoring LGBT issues, and failing to protect LGBT staff from harassment or discrimination.
Leaders play a crucial role in shaping workplace culture and relationships. Their actions, attitudes, and communication style influence relational trust, cohesion, and inclusion among LGBT personnel. Effective leaders display inclusive behavior that creates psychological safety, mutual support, collective responsibility, and a sense of belonging. When leaders fail to demonstrate these behaviors, they damage trust, cohesion, and inclusion among their teams, including LGBT staff. Therefore, organizations should invest in training and developing effective leaders who prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in their leadership approach.
How does leadership behavior influence relational trust, cohesion, and inclusion among LGBT personnel?
Leadership plays an important role in influencing team dynamics, including relational trust, cohesion, and inclusion among LGBT personnel. A leader's behavior can shape how members of the team interact with each other, as well as their willingness to collaborate and work together towards common goals. Effective leaders create a safe environment where all members feel valued, respected, and able to contribute equally.