2 min readEnhancewell
Overnight oats may get better while you sleep, but building trust with a team? That takes time and conscious effort.
Building trust is more than just some feel-good idea that makes no difference. Studies show that people who report working in high-trust companies experience 74% less stress, 106% more energy, 50% more productivity, and 13% fewer sick days than those at low-trust companies. Building trust with your team improves the workday AND offers tangible results for your business.
Today, we're talking about our top tips for how to build trust in the workplace. It may be challenging, and it definitely won't happen overnight, but we guarantee it'll be worth the work.
Things to remember when building trust in the workplace
Remember, trust must be earned. While the title of founder or CEO often comes with a measure of respect, being trustworthy is a choice you make every single day.
Trust is so much more than expecting someone to catch you during the trust fall at the company retreat. Practical trust is earned when you meet deadlines, follow through on your word, show up on time, and complete tasks well. Building emotional trust happens when employees feel respected, heard, and valued as a part of the team.
How to build trust in the workplace
Admit when you're wrong
"I'm sorry" is a simple sentence that can be difficult to say. Everyone makes mistakes occasionally, and owning up to failures is a huge part of growth. Show your team that it's ok to make mistakes by owning up to your own and taking steps to rectify the problem.
Stop talking
You know you have good ideas. But your team may have even better ones. Stay humble (and stay quiet) to give your team a chance to shine. Their ideas may surprise you!
Be a good communicator
Unless you work at a psychic hotline, your colleagues aren't mind-readers. Effective communication leaves no room for misinterpretation and allows staff members to approach with questions and concerns. Oh, and see above because listening is just as important as talking when communicating with your team.
Go above and beyond
You don't need to live at the office or take on everyone else's work to go above and beyond. However, helping others, especially when it's not technically "your job," goes a long way toward building trust. When Justin Timberlake sang, "What goes around comes back around," it was meant as a threat. But when you create a culture of kindness, that sentiment will come back around tenfold.
Don't forget inter-team trust
Building trust shouldn't be a one-way street between you as a boss and your subordinates. Focus on building trust with your team and within the team. When work is a place people enjoy being, employees experience 40% less burnout, and less turnover.
Warren Buffett said, "Trust is like the air we breathe. When it is present, nobody really notices. But when it's absent, everybody notices." How will you infuse your workplace with trust today?