Education & Career Trends: April 10, 2023
Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
- Excerpts are taken from an article published on entrepreneur.com
Trust is essential for a productive and thriving workplace. Employee performance is better when they have confidence in the organisation they work for. This building of faith comes primarily from more minor or subtle actions that accumulate over time. This system of confidence leads to more and better employee collaboration and empowers effective decision-making.
Trust-building results are hard to ignore, especially when comparing low-trust and high-trust companies. ‘High-Level’ employees report 50% more productivity, a 29% increase in happiness, and a 40% decrease in burnout. They also experience 74% less stress.
These seven suggestions for fostering trust can be implemented by teams and leaders in their daily operations.
1. Stick to the four ‘Cs’
- Competence, commitment, consistency, and caring are the essential elements associated with building trust.
- In the case of competence, employees should expect to work for someone who knows what they’re doing. A lack of faith in an employer could cause workers to lose confidence in the company as a whole.
- For commitment, employees are more likely to be motivated if they see that their leaders are dedicated to the company’s cause.
- Consistency helps people know what to expect and eliminates the chances of unforeseen hurdles.
- This dependability allows employees to plan better and stress less about unnecessary chaos.
- For caring, people need the feeling of being seen and heard in the workplace. Leaders who communicate and articulate with their employees better have a better chance of gaining trust in the workplace.
2. Be clear and direct with instructions
- Ambiguous and unclear feedback can significantly deplete trust over time.
- A worker could easily become stressed and anxious if they don’t have proper instructions to follow through.
- Don’t let the fear of micromanaging dissuade you from being hands-on if needed.
- It is important to set clear expectations and guidelines for your team.
3. Don’t avoid difficult conversations
- Many managers cite difficult conversations as their biggest challenge as a leader.
- Holding such conversations is a skill set that includes emotional intelligence, attention to detail, and an open mind.
- Leaders who don’t shy away from having such conversations set an example.
- If you and a member of your team need to talk things through, don’t be afraid to follow it through.
4. Give intentional feedback
- Regular feedback allows workers to possess a better understanding of their job performance and goals.
- Employees will know what they should keep doing and what approaches might need some alterations.
- Whether the feedback is positive or negative, it is imperative to be intentional with these conversations.
- Looking for opportunities to praise employees nurtures a sense of trust and fulfilment.
5. Care about the mental health of employees
- Leaders should take a genuine interest in the mental health of their employees.
- Showing care begins by promoting a healthy work-life balance for all staff.
- Burnout employees significantly hinder productivity. Approximately 75% of companies struggle with overwhelmed employees, according to a report by Office Vibe. These conditions affect overall job performance and the well-being of workers.
- Employers should help spread awareness about the importance of mental health.
- Awareness includes organising support groups for employees and cultivating a healthy work environment. It also means treating each and every employee with respect.
6. Create a safe work zone to encourage open communication
- Leaders should strive to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable making their voices heard.
- Workers feeling safe and supported can boost productivity and a sense of trust.
- This supportive atmosphere should extend through all areas of the workplace, including meetings and one-on-one conversations.
- Studies suggest that workers expect open communication and transparency from their leaders. Effective managers communicate with employees in several different ways.
7. Identify support systems
- Employees should know where they need to go for support when they want it.
- Support systems could come in the form of a designated team member or a reliable project management system.
- Ensuring these systems are strong and effective can significantly strengthen trust in the organisations over time
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Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet?
Supply Chain Management as a Career Option
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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