Building Trust Among Employees

Building Trust is the foundation of every relationship, be it family, romantic, or professional relationship. It’s like the foundation of a house, if built very poorly, the house will most likely not last long and will eventually collapse. If built with great quality materials and craftsmanship, the house will endure all kinds of weather and will last for a long period of time.

Just like a house, every organisation needs a strong foundation for it to withstand anything that will be thrown at it. And what is the foundation of any organisation? It’s the people within it.

So, how do you and I make this foundation strong in our organisations? By developing one of the key competencies of Emotional Intelligence, and that's Building Trust.

It takes a long time to build trust, and only an instant to destroy it.

How To Build Trust

When I work with individuals and teams to build trust and create an environment where there is less conflict and more collaboration, we start by identifying the Trust Makers and Trust Breakers. You would be amazed at the results that come just from that exercise.

To get you started on building trust right now, let me give you some tips that you can learn to practice consistently on a regular basis to build this Emotional Intelligence competency of building trust.

Be Present

Start by building personal relationships with others through listening carefully and openly to what’s on their minds and in their hearts. It's called 'active listening' and this needs you to be present and engaged, without distractions. When people know you are really listening to them, they know you care about them as a person, and that builds trust.

Be Reliable

Always seek to deliver on your commitments. If you say you will turn up to a meeting or do something for someone, put it in your calendar and make it a priority. Avoid being known as the person who makes a habit of canceling. Follow through on what you say you will do and people will talk about you as someone who can be trusted.

Be Accessible

Your people need to have conversations with you so they can have the certainty they need to do what it is you want them to do. Your employees will not trust you just because you have a title, you need to show up for them and lead.

Be Honest

Never knowingly mislead people or lie to cover up mistakes to avoid conflict. Admit your mistakes or your part in them.

A great leader knows that it is OK not to have all the answers and to get things wrong sometimes. It shows you are human and people will relate to you more. Employees do not want a perfect leader, they want one they can trust and rely on.

Be Consistent

Consciously articulate and demonstrate your authentic leadership values, principles, and ethics, in the actions you take and the decisions you make. Being who you really are, instead of wearing a mask to please others, is the best way to build trust. Alternatively, coming across as false and inconsistent will make people wary of you and doubt your ability to be trusted.

Be the Example

Protect the interests of those who are not present and those with less power than you. Have a zero-tolerance for gossip and slander within your team. A leader protects their people and when everyone in a team has each other's back, trust is high and people collaborate and get more done.

The Benefits of Building Trust

By doing these things, you’ll develop a culture of trust in your organisation, and by building trust, you and your employees will be confident to share information openly.

The prevailing feeling of doubt will disappear and you’ll all be more willing to treat other people fairly, consistently, and with respect. The care you’ll feel for your employees will be genuine, which results in a more harmonious working environment for everyone.

Having a culture of building mutual trust will also empower your people to express themselves through sharing their ideas and showing everyone what they’re really capable of.

There will be fewer fires for you to put out and you will reach your objectives without all the stress and conflict. Life will be more enjoyable for everyone and you will have more energy to invest in your priorities outside of work.

It's a win for you, a win for others, and a win for the greater good.

Anton Chekhov, a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be among the greatest writers in history said it best: “You must trust and believe in people, or life becomes impossible.”

Conclusion

By building trust, everyone in the organisation will have a deeper desire to help each other more, work harmoniously without being hindered by intrusive thoughts of competition, and move forward together towards a united goal.

So, how can you build more trust within your team? Where will you start?

We Are Here To Help

At People Builders, we have a team of expert trainers and coaches who can help you in building trust with your team. Contact us today for a quick chat to see how we can partner with you to train and coach you and your team.

If you are interested in becoming certified to be a trainer and coach in Social and Emotional Intelligence, Applied Neuroscience, or Extended DISC, go to our People Builders Institute website"