Tips to Creating a Better Team with Trust

Trust might be a rare commodity in the workplace, but it’s still one of the most highly prized ingredients in building effective teams. If you want to get the most out of your employees, it’s worth considering some key ways to create a culture of trust in your workforce.

Here are some pointers to kick the process off.

Reduce competition among staff

There can be a fine line between motivating your staff to succeed and pitting them against each other. If you foster a highly competitive atmosphere, you are likely to increase employees’ anxiety levels, promote resentment and envy, and reduce the level of effective teamwork. Make sure you give plenty of team incentives to balance the individual ones – encouraging your staff to work together, rather than apart.

Be honest about your mistakes

It’s no good berating your staff for their mistakes if you’re not prepared to own up to yours. Some employers mistakenly think that employees will lose respect for them if they admit to failure. The opposite is generally true. If your staff know that you acknowledge your own errors, they are far more likely to trust you with theirs – rather than trying to cover them up or protect colleagues from your potential wrath. You also prevent the rumour mill cranking into action, with disgruntled staff complaining about you behind your back, or criticising you on social media.

Always keep your word

It’s easy to promise your staff the earth, in the hope of motivating them to work harder and produce more. But if you do promise something – you have to deliver it. Walking away and hoping employees will forget the bonus you mentioned is the fastest way to win distrust. If staff know you follow through, any incentives you offer will be truly motivating and twice as effective.

Be consistent

Staff will quickly lose trust if you are unpredictable in your mood and dealings with them. If you’re a volatile boss habitually spreading your black moods throughout the workplace, prepare to be sidelined by your staff. Set down known and accepted rules which apply to all members of staff, treating everyone equally. Discrimination and unfair treatment are the fastest ways to lose staff trust – and lose staff altogether.

Show appreciation

Show genuine care for your workers, appreciating their hardships and valuing their input. You can do this through benefits, rewards and bonuses, but it’s just as important to achieve this on a behavioural level. Sometimes, a thank you is all it takes. Be approachable, willing to listen and genuinely concerned about their lives. Not only will they enjoy coming to work, they are more likely to become true team players. A solid recruitment strategy is vital to uncover workers who will enrich your team.