How to Build Trust in the Workplace

How to Build Trust in the Workplace

If you want your organization to succeed, there must be a foundation of trust.

Trust may be an intangible concept, but you can see it in action every day—especially in the workplace.

As the core element of leadership, trust enables leaders to foster a positive, productive and engaged community where employees feel more satisfied, motivated and committed to their work.

If you’re ready to create a more empowering and efficient work environment for your team, here are some basic principles for building trust in the workplace.

Benefits of Building Trust in the Workplace

The employee experience is fundamentally determined by trust. This sense of confidence and security in a leader’s or an organization’s reliability helps drive success in nearly every aspect of the workplace. Building trust can:

  • Strengthen team performance
  • Improve the employee experience and company culture
  • Enhance an organization’s reputation

Let’s dive into some of the benefits you can achieve by investing in building trust within your organization.

Trust Improves Employee Engagement and Retention

Employees who trust their leaders and their organization have higher engagement. When workers feel trusted by their managers and co-workers, they feel valued and empowered to take initiative. In turn, this leads to a higher commitment to their work and a willingness to contribute everything they’ve got. Plus, they’re less likely to look for other jobs when they’re satisfied with what they’re doing.

Workers at High-Trust Organizations Are Happier and Healthier

Happy employees have enhanced physical and mental well-being, which directly impacts their job satisfaction. Feelings of trust at work benefit employees in incredible ways, with people working at high-trust companies reporting:

  • Less stress
  • More energy at work
  • Higher productivity
  • Fewer sick days
  • Less burnout
  • More overall satisfaction in their personal and professional lives

Trust Enhances Creativity and Innovation

Do you want your employees to feel safe taking calculated risks or voicing their opinions? They need to know they can make mistakes and try new things without fear of judgment. This kind of openness stems directly from trust. By putting in the intentional effort to build trust, your team members will feel free to share ideas and insights—and your organization will benefit from a steady supply of creative problem-solving and better teamwork.

5 Key Elements of Trust in the Workplace

Are your employees willing to trust you? This is the foundation on which workplace trust is built. Five key elements can predict whether or not employees are willing to trust you as a leader. Identifying your strengths and weaknesses in these dimensions is essential to empower trust-building in your organization.

  1. Transparency: Trust happens when leaders are candid. When you’re honest about challenges or share the reasons behind decisions, you empower your workers to actively engage in the company.
  2. Authenticity: Employees are more willing to trust a leader they view as sincere and genuine in their approach. Being true to yourself can inspire confidence and empower deeper connections.
  3. Consistency: A dependable leader follows through on their word and makes good on their promises. Consistency means showing your workers you will do what you say without delay.
  4. Competence: It’s essential to demonstrate your ability to make sound decisions, achieve goals and handle challenges without wavering. While you may occasionally make mistakes, own up to them and let them motivate mindful decision-making.
  5. Empathy: Empathy builds trust. When your employees believe you care about them, they feel heard, valued and supported, fostering loyalty and strengthening communication and camaraderie.

Trust-Building Practices and Activities

Now, it’s time to put these thoughts into practice. If you want your workplace to be a high-trust environment where people feel safe and valued, here are some simple practices you can utilize in your employee relationships:

  • Active listening: Stay engaged in discussions and give workers your undivided attention.
  • Honest communication: Be honest, even about difficult subjects, and allow employees to speak and express their concerns.
  • Humanity: Show your employees that you hear them and validate their feelings. From regular check-ins to getting to know their interests, a relational attitude puts a human face on your organization.
  • Recognition: Provide real-time recognition for a job well done and consistently praise your employees’ efforts.
  • Mentorship: Try coaching your employees to become self-sufficient rather than micromanaging their work.
  • Group activities: Meaningful activities, such as eating out together or volunteering in the local community, allow you to bond over shared experiences.
  • Feedback: Let workers take an active role in improving your workplace. When you ask for feedback, analyze the results to find areas for improvement.

Create a High-Trust Environment With The Center for Leadership Studies

Trust is an essential business asset and a crucial skill that every leader needs to develop. All you need is the willingness to do the work. At The Center for Leadership Studies, we offer guidance on demonstrating trust-building behaviors and earning your employees’ trust.

For over 50 years, we have equipped leaders with the tools and resources they need to achieve company-wide success by developing key leadership skills. Our Building Trust course can help you cultivate and maintain high trust in your workplace. We invite you to learn more.