It’s often said that trust is the foundation of any relationship. In the workplace, this trait is essential to establish solid and positive interpersonal connections that encourage motivation and good work of employees in the long term.
But, statistics show that not all companies are interested in building relationships with their team. According to a study carried out by Edelman : only 44% of Spanish employees say they trust their company.
The bad news is that companies that fail to convey confidence in their employees will have more difficulties in reaching their objectives. When employees do not trust their employers, they are less likely to feel comfortable, proactive, productive and efficient in their work.
Confidence is also an indispensable variable in talent loyalty. The saying goes: “People don’t leave their companies, they leave their bosses.”
When leaders don’t know how to convey trust, either because they use an overly managerial style, or because they do not have the right skills and tools to do so, their team members end up tired and frustrated, causing them to look for other companies where they feel valued.
But there is good news: by following the right strategies, it is possible to boost trust with employees. Even with the hardest to please.
If you want to know how to do it, keep reading. Here ‘s how to build team confidence and achieve great results.
Advantages of building trust with employees
One thing is clear, and that is that trust is not earned overnight. This is a trait that needs to be cared for and fed every day. And yet, a single mistake can destroy all the effort invested.
However, don’t forget all the benefits that make building trust in the workplace worthwhile:
- Improves corporate culture. Trust and respect ensure a healthy work environment with equal opportunities, an aspect that is highly valued by today’s employees who are looking for a place in their company to grow and develop personally and professionally.
- Promotes autonomy. Feeling valued increases self-esteem and encourages employees to make decisions and carry them out, which increases motivation and streamlines production processes.
- Helps create a feeling of belonging. When employees feel trusted, they are more likely to be invested in the company’s mission and vision, giving their best for a common goal.
- Promotes a positive work environment. Trusting predisposes employees to feel safe, reducing unfair competition and promoting teamwork.
- Increases team productivity. Consequently, due to all of the above, employees are more motivated, more efficient and work better. And this is reflected in better results.
How to build trust with your employees
Now that you know the advantages of having the trust of the workforce, it is time to know how to develop the strategies to earn it.
So, here are 5 ways to build trust among the members of your team and improve the results of your organization. You’ll see how it’s not that difficult.
1. For people to trust you, you first have to get to know them.
For building trust with your employees, it’s important that you spend time getting to know them. You will have to identify what motivates them to stay in your organization, and what aspects are those that you must improve to boost that confidence.
To help you in this task, you can use specialized tools to learn everything you need to know about your team without having to spend hours in one-on-one meetings.
One of these tools is employee surveys. With them, you get a lot of valuable information with which to understand the aspirations of your collaborators and take the right actions to develop and maintain trust in the long term.
2. Use feedback to refine your strategy
Feedback is a valuable resource. In the same way that as leaders we use feedback to improve team performance, employees can share their ideas and opinions to reinforce a climate of trust.
To do this, ask them directly what you need to do to make them trust the company. A question that can be delicate to answer, and for this reason, it’s recommended that the team have a space in which their voices can be heard anonymously.
With that, you will not only gather the keys to perfect your employee trust management, but you will also be promoting it: when you ask them, you are letting them know that their contributions are valuable for decision-making.
3. Give recognition to a job well done
Trusting also includes knowing when to praise employees for achieving goals. Your team works very hard to move the company forward, and if that effort is not rewarded, trust can be damaged.
To earn the appreciation of collaborators, nothing better than recognizing their contributions. You can do it individually or as a team, in private or in front of other managers, in person or by e-mail…
No matter the way you choose, recognition is important. And, furthermore, it does not have to entail any extra cost for the company.
4. Teach your employees to learn from mistakes
One of the elements that contributes the most to boosting trust with employees is a safe environment. This means that team members must be able to make mistakes without fear of feeling judged or reprimanded.
Far from losing quality in services, errors are a source of knowledge. Through them, employees can identify what is working and what is not, allowing them to move forward and grow.
Furthermore, a secure environment not only fosters trust, it also enhances creativity and innovation.
So, as a leader, it is essential that you instill in your team the idea that mistakes are not something to be ashamed of, but an opportunity to do things better.
5. There is no trust without honesty, transparency and respect
To build trust with your team, stop taking things for granted. Communication must be open and fluid, honest and transparent. Of course, always with education and respect.
In this sense, it is important to make your expectations clear from the beginning. What do you hope your team achieves? What are their goals? What is at their fingertips? What is out of place?
When employees know what is expected of them, their actions will be oriented in the right direction. Otherwise, they are likely to feel lost and confused, and mistrust your leadership to achieve goals.
On the other hand, it is also essential to lead by example. For building trust with employees, as a leader you need to meet the expectations of the people you lead: you must fulfill your words and face your commitments.
Would you like to generate more trust among employees? In Team Insights we provide you with the right tools to get to know your team. You only have to sign in up, fill in the data, and start gathering all the information you need to know to meet the needs of your collaborators and boost their trust in a sustainable way.
Why don’t you start now? It’s free!
