Building Trust Through Open Communication

Trust lays the foundation for any healthy relationship—whether it be personal or professional. However, research suggests that the level of trust between employees and employers is declining.

Open communication is instrumental for trust building. Our guide will highlight some effective strategies to help leaders enhance their communication skills and establish greater transparency within the workplace.

What Is Open Communication?

Open communication involves freely vocalizing your ideas and thoughts. It promotes an environment of understanding, allowing people to feel acknowledged and heard.

According to an article published in the Harvard Business Review, approximately 80% of employees would opt to work for an organization prioritizing open communication over other benefits. Establishing a culture that values trust and communication offers your organization the following advantages:

• Increased employee engagement: Leaders who communicate effectively equip teams with the information they need to perform their jobs. Having all the resources on hand boosts employee engagement.
• Enhanced team alignment: A leader may develop an impressive strategy—but they need a team to execute it. Articulating your vision encourages employees to buy into it and take steps toward making it come true.
• More confidence in decision-making: Empowering team members to make decisions helps to save time and build confidence. In addition, giving employees more responsibility helps ensure an effective succession path.
• Boosted teamwork: Companies thrive on effective inter-department connections. Promoting a culture of open communication allows team members at all levels to collaborate and achieve collective goals.

Transparency as a Foundation for Trust

All businesses undergo changes, which may cause anxiety within your workforce. Promoting trust in communication helps to mitigate these feelings, as employees feel assured their superiors will have their best interests at heart—so, how do you establish trust with others? The answer is transparent communication.

Conveying honest information is essential to ensure teams are on the same page. Yet, it’s equally important that leaders know when to share important details. Finding the right time to divulge facts can ensure:

• Enhanced credibility: Waiting until you have all the information enables you to position yourself as a reliable source. Leaders who follow this approach won’t need to retract information later on, impacting their credibility.
• Reduced confusion: As organizations comprise many members, it’s essential there’s one core message delivered to all. Sharing verified information limits confusion among teams.
• Better decision-making: Waiting until you have accurate data—rather than making assumptions—ensures better decisions. These choices can lead to higher profits, better use of resources and a more professional image.

Creating a Safe Environment for Dialogue

Communication is a two-way street—as such, leaders have the responsibility to create a safe environment that allows teams to voice their thoughts. Some ways in which leaders can achieve this include:

• Establish trust: When people trust one another, they’re more inclined to share honest opinions. Sharing personal experiences and vulnerabilities is one of the most effective ways to build trust.
• Create guidelines: Setting some basic rules—such as using appropriate language and waiting for others to finish speaking—helps to ensure respectful conversations. Consider educating staff about these guidelines during the onboarding process.
• Promote inclusivity: Ensure more inclusive discussions by using a “round-robin” technique where everyone has a chance to say something. If you’re communicating online, provide staff with the training they need to navigate their technology so they can share their ideas.
• Create physical and emotional comfort: Equipping your conference room with comfortable chairs and water dispensers helps to ensure physical comfort. In addition, reminding employees that you value everyone’s opinions will help people feel more confident in joining the conversation.
• Model good communication: Set a good example for your team by communicating respectfully. Similarly, reinforcing that you have an open-door policy will encourage other employees to follow suit.

Regular feedback loops allow employees to voice any concerns hindering a safe and fair workplace. Conducting frequent check-ins or surveys are just some examples of how you can solicit feedback. In addition, allowing staff to submit feedback anonymously will ensure they feel more comfortable sharing their honest opinions.

Accountability Through Communication

A further benefit of effective communication building is accountability. When leaders are open with employees, they have a better idea of what their role requires. This enables them to fulfill expectations and drive company progress.

Open communication also enables employees to be more receptive to feedback. By conducting honest conversations, employees gain a better idea of how their superiors perceive their work and can take accountability for their actions.

Building Relationships Through Active Listening

Effective communication involves active listening. This conversation technique goes beyond simply hearing the words, as participants must give their full attention to the speaker, clarify points and respond accordingly. Some tips for active listening include:

• Commit to the conversation: Ensure you are present for the conversation by blocking off time in your diary and remaining mindful of your body language. Choosing a noise-free location will help limit distractions.
• Encourage the speaker: Instead of jumping in with a solution, allow the speaker to suggest ways to mitigate a situation. Placing the onus on them helps to ensure more realistic steps forward.
• Ask questions for further understanding: You can gain further information to enlighten your responses by asking open-ended questions. Seek further clarification if necessary.
• Show that you’re a willing participant: Nonverbal cues like nodding your head or maintaining eye contact indicate you’re interested. Using a few affirmative phrases also helps to acknowledge the speaker.
• Summarize the main points: Show the speaker you’ve been listening to them by reiterating their main points. The person will have the opportunity to correct you if you’re unclear about something.

In addition to these steps, the Harvard Business Review also recommends that you understand your default listening style. For example, you may be an analytical listener who aims to find solutions to a problem from an objective viewpoint. On the other hand, some people are relational listeners whose main priority is to form an emotional connection with the speaker. Understanding which listening style you gravitate toward makes you more aware of your tendencies during active listening, allowing you to adjust your style if needed.

Improve Your Communication Skills With The Center for Leadership Studies

Open communication is essential for a healthy workplace where employees can thrive. Transparency also helps to minimize confusion, boost teamwork and enhance productivity.

Executives looking for strategies on how to build trust and enhance their communication skills should consider signing up for our Building Trust and Communicating Effectively courses. By participating in a series of engaging activities and peer discussions, you will gain the tools you need to drive a culture that prioritizes intentional communication. Take the next step in transforming your workplace by contacting our professional team or learning about our training opportunities online!