How to Build Trust Between You and Your Team
Joni Wickham
'The Thin Line Between Cupcake and B*tch' is my way of life..and also the title of a book I wrote!
Trust is the foundation of a collaborative and successful team. Relationships are reliant on trust and that goes the same with the people we surround ourselves with at work. Trust is essential to your position, whether you are a manager, leader, or C-Suite. However, building trust is not an easy path and can take time and patience. A simple pizza party or donuts will not garner trust, but your actions and words do.
So, no matter if you are a new or seasoned leader, here are five ways to build trust between you and your team.
Communication is key to any successful relationship, but you can not expect amazing communication from your team if you are not providing it back to them. This means you are offering an open-door policy with the promise of active listening and communication back on your end. They will not feel inclined to speak with you if you do not speak with them when things need to be brought up. Like any other relationship, don’t bottle stuff up and let it stew. Speak up, communicate, and support your team so they can trust you and come to you when they have issues or opinions.
A trustworthy person does not make promises and breaks them down the line. As a leader, it is essential to honor your commitments, even if it is as simple as sending an email by the end of the day. This shows your team that you can be trusted with tasks and favors if they need something, and most importantly, you are setting a good example for them to work by. Try not to make promises you can not keep, and if you can’t keep a promise– reread number one.
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This is a difficult one for many people. Even if you got a date wrong on a memo, admitting you are wrong is essential to being trustworthy and building that trust between you and your team. People don’t like excuses, and simply admitting that you were wrong and will work to fix it can help garner a closer relationship and increase respect in your team. Additionally, this can show a level of vulnerability to your team and allow them to humanize you, making you more trustworthy in their eyes.
Truth is built on honesty, and if you are not honest, you can very well assume that your team is not going to trust you. This starts with not keeping secrets, properly explaining what and why you do certain things, and telling your team when things might be changing or even if you are simply having a rough day and that you might be a bit on edge today. That simple act of honesty and transparency can ensure they see you in the proper light and can build their trust in you.
Lastly, many leaders and managers might just think that the people at work are just that, people at work and that there is no reason to get closer to them and build a relationship or rapport. However, I am here to tell you that that is complete nonsense. Do you want to build trust? Then, you have to develop that relationship. If you stick to your mindset that you only see these people for eight hours on workdays and don’t need to think of them further, you and your team are going to be on a rocky foundation. It is likely that they want to trust you, but you have to put the work in to get there. So, ask them about their day, remember things about them, congratulate them on their achievements, and support them through struggles. Show that you care, and trust will form.
Trust goes both ways, and these five steps are a great way to set an example for your team and show them the proper way to act and show respect in the workplace. If you have questions or want to become a stronger and more trustworthy leader, message me or contact the team at Wickham James.