12 Tips to Build Trust with Employees
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Trust is an essential element of every organization. Stephen R. Covey stated, “Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships.” The ability to build trust with employees is a cornerstone of business and relationship success for small companies as well as large companies.
Why it is Important to Build Trust with Employees
It is important to build trust with employees because trust builds better teamwork and enhances collaboration. It improves efficiency, engagement, and productivity. Indeed, high-trust workplaces have been shown to have employees who report more energy at work and take fewer sick days. Trust increases morale and decreases employee stress and burnout. Trust improves organizational alignment and a sense of belonging, thus increasing employee loyalty and retention. Trust enhances the quality of management decision-making, and trusted employees feel more confident and empowered in making their decisions. Trust helps to overcome a natural resistance to change. Trust improves employee creativity and innovation, and it helps build future leaders.
12 Tips to Build Trust with Employees
Consider these ways to build trust with employees to create a higher-performing, more resilient workforce:
- Know that trust is not something that you can purchase. It must be earned, and leaders must be ready to earn it by keeping their promises and consistently modeling trustworthy behavior.
- Be honest and transparent. People want to and deserve to know the truth. Hiding or dodging the truth is a trust killer. Even in difficult circumstances, leaders can say what they know, what they don’t know, and what they intend to find out. You can be direct and candid with people and deal with normal mistakes by conveying timely, relevant, and honest information.
- Consciously and consistently attempt to listen deliberately and more intently. Leaders do not have to (and shouldn’t talk) too much. Give employees plenty of opportunities and time to voice concerns and ask questions.
- Actively solicit feedback and take action on employees’ suggestions.
- Foster plenty of peer-to-peer communication.
- Institute and encourage embracing accountability practices. Facilitate continuous learning.
- Practice and extend empathy and humanity to employees.
- Build regular employee recognition into the culture.
- Establish an environment of coaching rather than dictation.
- Develop a style of approachable and authentic leadership.
- Fully engage employees in all change management efforts.
- Truly care about the psychological safety of your employees.
Trust-Busting Business Mistakes
Avoid some crucial mistakes when working to build trust with employees. First, engaging in unethical practices like deceptive marketing, exploiting customers, or price gouging. Second, not being transparent. Third, breaking promises made to customers, partners, vendors, or employees. Fourth, using inconsistent or incomplete communication. Fifth, ignoring competition because that will make a business appear to be (and to become) stagnant and untrustworthy. Sixth, hiring the wrong people, people who lack integrity and competence or fail to align with company values. Seventh, not instituting an environment of accountability. Eighth, having poor customer service, including unprofessional behavior, not standing behind your products or services, and providing inadequate support.
Seek Professional Business Coaching Assistance
Contact Blue Diamond Consultants for coaching services based on extensive experience through previous success for home service provider businesses.