Erin Stahla, Co-owner of Stahla Services, a nationwide provider of restroom, shower, and ADA trailer rentals joins Enterprise Radio. Erin will discuss the importance of building trust which is the foundation of leadership.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Erin Stahla discuss the following:
(Host Eric Dye): What do you think makes people naturally trust or distrust a leader?
(Guest Erin Stahla):Â Well, I think trust really happens when your actions and words match, and that could be through an interview process, through a conversation just organically that happens throughout the day or hard conversations. Even team meetings are a good one as an example, but really I do think that distrust happens when words match your actions. I think similarly distrust when those things don’t match up, you’re in a world of hurt, so that can happen very quickly where the team starts to have distrust in their leader or in the organization. Good news and bad news, I guess, is that is kind of the power that the leader holds. So I think really as the leader, you want to make sure that whatever you’re saying is actually truth. There’s going to be those times where you say something you know it is true in that moment and then the situation changes, but just kind of keeping tabs of that in your head as you go, to be able to go back and say like, hey, I know we said this, this situation did change. And so we had to update our circumstance to follow whatever that circumstance change was. So as long as you’re like keeping the team updated and in the loop when those things happen, I think trust still happens as a leader if you’re keeping everyone in the loop as you know the developing situation.
(Host Eric Dye): Can you share a time when transparency—especially around a tough decision—actually increased trust rather than weakened your authority?
(Guest Erin Stahla):Â Yeah, this is a good one to talk through because I think there are many tough decisions that have to be made when in a business or really in any sort of organization. So one one of those for us was we went through kind of a tougher financial time and really as a team we had to rally around that and say like, hey, it’s not going to be one person. It’s not going to be one leader or one team member that gets us out of this. We kind of collectively got here through a series of decisions, and so now we’re going to need to collectively get out of here through a series of decisions. So we started talking through that more and more transparently kind of as time went on. There are certain things where it’s like, hey, as a leader, you get to bare the brunt of the toughest things, the heaviest weight, and that’s just part of the job. But there are certain things where you want to be as open as possible in a way that creates trust, but also you have to walk a line of not creating fear or anxiety in the team as well. So that was just one example I think of, you know, when we were going through a tougher financial time, we started to loop the team into like, hey, you’re going to see some budget cuts or you’re going to see us cutting back in certain areas. Here’s why. And like we, we are asking the whole team to just like keep an eye on spending but here’s how we’re going to make it through this. So you really have to also give them the upside of like, it’s going to look a little bit rough or it’s going to be tougher for all of us. We’re all going to be, you know, on lacing up our shoes a little tighter every morning. And that’s great. But you know, that’s to get us to a place of health. So transparency. You do walk a fine line of like you want to be truthful, honest, transparent, but you don’t want to create fear and anxiety by oversharing, you know, the weight that the leader needs to carry themselves. So yeah, I think always looping the team into kind of like the why is really helpful in those times.
(Host Eric Dye): What daily habits or rhythms have you built that show your team you’re consistent and dependable?
(Guest Erin Stahla):Â I think some small ways is just when you set meetings, have the meetings or if you need to push a meeting back, like just be clear about it as soon as possible of like, hey, we need to reschedule this or let’s push this back 30 minutes. But like you never miss a meeting or you never forget one as as often as possible.So meetings are a good one to kind of establish that trust of like, hey, I said we’re gonna have this meeting at this time or I agreed that I’ll be here, so I’m here and I’m prepared. Other ways, even when team members just reach out to you, like getting back to them in a timely fashion. It’s really helpful for building trust and really again, it’s just like if you say something, do it. That’s the biggest thing in my mind of how you can build trust on a team. So if you say you’re going to get something done, then just do it or keep the team updated as to if you can’t accomplish it or it doesn’t make sense to accomplish that thing. Let them know why so that it doesn’t look like you said you committed and then it looks like you forgot or you committed and then you chose not to. Just let’s keep everyone in the loop. So communication is I think everyone could kind of default to like communication is key, but when trust is concerned is the topic, I think communication does really carry the day.
(Host Eric Dye): How do you rebuild trust when you’ve dropped the ball or made a decision your team didn’t love or care for so much?
(Guest Erin Stahla): This is kind of an interesting one. I think it’s really tough to rebuild that trust, but there’s going to be a time where you’re in a position as a leader or, you know, as a manager where you have dropped the ball. It does just happen. We’re all human or we do are forced to make decisions. Decisions that, you know, the team is maybe saying, hey, we don’t want to do this or we don’t want to tighten budget or we don’t want to, you know, make any cuts. But you still have to move forward with it because you see a bigger picture of how those decisions are going to play into the business thriving, which means that everyone in the business is going to thrive eventually. So I think just rebuilding that trust, what comes up for me is just like telling the truth. So there’s trust with with great honesty and great integrity. So as long as they understand that, hey, you’re making these decisions in a way that is like. For the greater good, I think a lot of people can come around that and even if they don’t enjoy that, they can still understand why, why the things are happening. I think once to rebuild trust, it is just being honest and saying, hey, I think I made a decision that or I know I made a decision that isn’t very popular with the team. I understand that, and I understand why it wouldn’t be popular for these reasons. Here’s the reasons that we’re going to go ahead and make this decision with, you know, having heard everyone, it seems odd to, you know, hear people say that they don’t want this and then we’re going to go ahead and do it. But here’s why we’re going to do it. And I just ask that everyone pull it together that we do trust each other in this time and the idea is that we’ll be able to look back in weeks, months and years and understand why we made that decision. So hopefully you’ve gained enough trust throughout your other interactions with the team that they really do understand that you have their greater. In mind when making a tougher decision or when it looks like you know you you tore down trust. I always think one-on-one conversations, your side conversations are awesome too. You can have this kind of like rally the team moment in a big team meeting, but really those side conversations of like hey. I understand that, you know, maybe this isn’t something that you’ve been, or I understand that maybe in your eyes it looks like I dropped the ball or this isn’t a decision that you would agree with. Let’s talk that through just so we can kind of come to an understanding. We may not leave this room with an agreement, in agreement or like you know, on the same side of this issue, but I would like it to at least create more understanding as to why we’re doing what we’re doing. So those are a couple of things that come to mind for me when maybe trust has been lost in ways to go about rebuilding that.
(Host Eric Dye): What’s one way leaders can invite feedback from their team without losing authority or momentum?
(Guest Erin Stahla): I think this is an interesting one. You definitely want to cultivate just an atmosphere where everyone can share their open, honest thoughts. I do caveat that with like, this is a professional place, so like we’re not going to just spew, you know, whatever’s on our mind at all times. I don’t think that’s a good practice to begin with, but we do want feedback. Like if we’re making a decision in operations, that’s going to impact them. It only makes sense that they’re a part of the conversation before the rollout of like instead of like, boom, here’s the change. I think it’s really helpful to have conversations leading up to that and inviting feedback of like, hey, this is going to be a large change. What do you think of that? What are your, you know, what are your pinch points as a person with that and how can we kind of work together to either go through that in a better way or just kind of accept it’s going to be hard for a while and hunker down into that with you? And I don’t ever think that inviting feedback would really cause a person to lose authority or the momentum. I think it only creates the momentum because you have a more accurate picture on what the change needs to be or where the pinch points are. So I think really creating a safe enough spot for your team to actually like your organic feedback, you know, without sending out like a questionnaire or a form or like a, you know, a private survey that they can fill out. Like it’s just really nice when people feel secure enough to say like, hey, this decision was made, I get that. But if I could push back on this for a second and let you know kind of where you know some of the the bench points are, I think this would be effective for the team and then just celebrating that, you know, being grateful for their feedback saying, hey, we might not be able to make all these changes, but I appreciate you thinking through this and I think we’re going to be able to implement some version of this that never in my mind would cause people to lose authority. I think it would just create, you know, even more momentum.
Tune into our ALL ABOUT Stahla Services Podcast Series – right here.
About Grant & Erin Stahla
Grant and Erin Stahla are entrepreneurs passionate about redefining portable sanitation and creating a business that reflects their values—care for people, excellence in service, and faith-driven leadership.
Their journey began with a shared passion for business, which became the foundation of their relationship. While most couples start with small talk, Grant and Erin’s first date was spent discussing sales, marketing, and operations. Grant launched Stahla Services right out of college, and Erin joined him in the business after they got married. Together, they’ve built a company that not only delivers exceptional service but also prioritizes strong relationships—with customers, employees, and the community.
Beyond their work, Grant and Erin are committed to personal growth, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and giving back through their support of Love Justice International, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing human trafficking. Their business is an extension of their mission to serve others while fostering a life centered on faith, family, and integrity.
About Stahla Services
At Stahla Services, we believe restrooms should be more than just a necessity. That’s why we provide restroom and shower trailer rentals that offer a clean, comfortable, and premium experience for event guests, construction crews, and businesses alike.
Unlike standard porta-potties, our facilities feel more like high-end hotel restrooms, featuring:
✅ Climate control for comfort in any season
✅ Fresh running water and modern fixtures
✅ Spacious, spotless interiors with fully stocked supplies
Whether you are hosting a wedding, managing a construction site, or organizing a corporate event, we deliver reliable service with a commitment to excellence. Our team ensures that your restroom experience is seamless, from setup to pickup, so you can focus on what matters most.
Beyond business, we’re driven by a purpose—to do things the right way, give back to those in need, and create opportunities for growth. With every rental, a portion of our profits supports Love Justice International in their fight against human trafficking.
At Stahla Services, we’re more than just a restroom rental company—we’re a team dedicated to providing comfort, reliability, and care in every interaction.
Website: https://stahla.com
Social Media Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stahla.services
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stahlaservices
Grant Stahla’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-stahla
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Stahlaservices
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