FACT: Survey results from Harvard Business Review show about 60% of employees trust strangers more than their own boss.

1. Pick a management style that’s true to your personality. In other words, don’t try to be someone you’re not. If you’re more reserved, focus your time on meeting one-on-one with employees to maximize their engagement. If you’re more outgoing, schedule group meetings when talking strategy.

2. Always be honest. Bosses that communicate transparently – even if the news isn’t what employees want to hear – will earn respect. Workers prefer straight-talkers.

3. Don’t over-delegate. If employees feel like you’re offloading your work onto them, morale will suffer. You need to work as hard as your staffers. Set the right example.

4. Ask for feedback from employees regularly. You can do this by privately surveying staffers instead of getting feedback in-person, which can be awkward.

5. Admit your mistakes. If you want employees to be accountable, you need to be as well. When you mess up, just say it, move on and do better.