Whether staff is back in the office, working remotely, or trying out a hybrid situation, trust in the workplace is essential. Granted, this is easier said than done, what with the current shift to more virtual workplaces. Here is a brief look into trust in the workplace and a few ways you can build it in-person and virtually.
Every manager or employer needs to understand how to build trust at work and why maintaining high levels is crucial. Trust can enhance engagement and potentially lead to 74% less stress and 40% less employee burnout. These substantial decreases may see employees thrive and could lead to higher output. Organizations working to construct a strong culture of trust might be rewarded with increased levels of success across the board.
A recent study compared the top trusted companies with the bottom-ranked companies and found compelling data on the subject. First, the study showed the employees at the highly trusted organizations had 106% more energy and 76% more engagement in their work. These significantly increased levels contributed to 50% more productivity. An additional advantage to more trust was that employees had 50% more interest in retaining their positions at the company over the next year.
Other reports show similar data to support the importance of workplace trust. A survey on HR professionals uncovered that 80% of the sample strongly link trust to active engagement from those in leadership roles. More than half — 55% — of such leaders believe a lack of trust in the workplace “constitutes a foundational threat to their company.” So, how can business leaders work to improve trust?
While there are many methods and approaches to establishing trust, it boils down to clear and consistent communication. Communicate your trust in the team and on an individual level. Showing you believe in them and their abilities are fundamental to increasing employee satisfaction. Typically, when people feel more satisfied with their jobs and feel valued as team members, they perform better.
Communication may be challenging at times — especially when personnel is working from home. Not having face-to-face conversations can remove the social cues we often rely on, but that doesn’t mean virtual interaction cannot be effective. Consider implementing team-building exercises among remote workers, virtual coffee breaks, investing in innovative virtual management platforms or tools, and celebrating the team’s success together.
Establishing trust takes time, transparency, mutual respect, and consistent effort on multiple fronts. A great place to start is to solicit feedback and act on the words of advice from the team members. Try holding a virtual forum or an office-wide gathering to discuss what can be done to improve conditions. Showing you care about their opinions and diverse viewpoints could go further than you think. While these approaches might seem rudimentary, they cannot be overlooked or understated.
For more methods to foster trust virtually and in person, please see the accompanying resource.
Graphic created by WorkPatterns.