Anton Guinea
Entrepreneur, Speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Guinea Group of Companies. For over 15 years, Anton has helped leaders move their teams to become psychologically safe, physically safe and overall better versions of themselves.
What would change if you treated every workday as a fresh chance to earn your team’s trust?
I’ve learnt that strong leader–team relationships aren’t built in away days or big speeches. They’re built in tiny, repeatable habits that I practice before lunch. The good news: none of this is complicated. It’s practical and human. Below are the five daily habits I use (and teach) to strengthen trust, connection, and performance with links to deeper reads if you want to go further.
Start with intentional check ins
I begin most days with quick, genuine check ins. “How are you travelling?” “What’s feeling heavy?” I’m not trying to fix everything on the spot. I’m showing I care and I’m paying attention. Small, consistent reaches like this build predictability and predictability builds trust.
If you want a sharp outside take on trust behaviours that actually move people, here’s a short piece on seven trust-building behaviours that line up with what I see in the field. I also like this simple framework for daily trust habits because it keeps leaders focused on small actions done often.
Want a step-by-step from my library? Try building trust in leadership for practical ideas you can test this week.
Practise active listening like it’s your core skill
Listening is how I show respect and get to the truth. I keep eye contact, summarise what I heard, and ask one more question than feels comfortable. Most friction at work hides under assumptions; listening brings it to the surface safely.
If you’d like a quick skills refresher, here are five listening skills I rely on. For a broader view on why relationships at work matter, I point leaders to this Harvard Business Review article on healthy work relationships and another piece on why high-performing teams invest in connection on purpose here.
Share vision and appreciation every single day
Teams need to know two things: where we’re going and that their effort matters. I connect daily tasks to the larger purpose and I thank people for specific behaviours, not just outcomes. “You slowed down to bring the apprentice along, that’s leadership.” Recognition like that lands because it’s clear and immediate.
For the craft of clear, everyday leadership speaking, you might explore how to speak so your team can follow. It pairs well with building a culture of appreciation for simple ways to reinforce effort without making it a box-ticking exercise.
Stay calm and choose steady responses
I used to think I had to solve everything fast. Now I aim to respond steadily. Before I speak, I pause, breathe, and pick the next right step. That small pause changes meetings. People lean in when they sense you’re considered rather than reactive.
If you want a deeper dive on keeping your cool, this short piece from my library helps: three ways to stay calm under pressure. You can also widen the lens with why emotional intelligence matters for leaders.
Create safe conversations every day
I make speaking up normal by asking better questions and thanking people when they raise tricky topics. I also invite disagreement and protect people who bring it. That’s not soft, that’s how teams avoid groupthink and catch risk early.
For practical “speak-up” tools, try my piece on creating a safe space and this one on how safe conversations build trust.
Ready to build this across your whole workplace? Explore the Speak Safe training program for a structured way to practise safe, legally compliant, everyday conversations.
How this looks in real teams
I keep seeing the same pattern: teams don’t break from big failures, they fray from small misses that go unspoken. The leader who checks in, listens, links effort to purpose, stays calm, and makes speaking up safe every day doesn’t let those misses stack up. Psychological safety grows, and with it, pace and quality. If you’d like a quick read that echoes this, here’s a helpful HBR article on building real relationships at work worth bookmarking.
Closing thoughts
Leadership doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. By anchoring yourself in a few steady daily habits, you’ll create an environment where trust grows, people feel safe, and results take care of themselves. Remember, consistency is what makes these habits powerful. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to strengthen your leadership, this is it. You don’t have to do it alone, either. I’m here to support you and your team in building a culture where connection and care come first. Book a call with me today and let’s make these habits part of your leadership story.
Please click the image below if you’d like to chat about what leadership means to you
If you would like to learn more about Anton or The Guinea Group, please click here to book into Anton’s calendar, to:
UPGRADE your Mindset
UPSKILL your Leadership
UPLIFT your Teams