Credibility in the Workplace

Trust is a crucial factor for both in-person teams and remote workers. Without motivation and productivity, any employee is likely to be negatively impacted. Workers at high-trust companies, in fact, report 74 percent less stress, demonstrate 50 percent higher productivity, and encounter 40 percent less burnout.

 

Why is it important?

Trust in the workplace is characterized by a culture where employees experience honesty, psychological safety, and mutual respect. Trust in the workplace is important for several reasons:

• Helps employees in feeling job security, thereby reducing turnover rates.
• Building employee engagement often leads to higher quality work and better results for your company.
• Fosters a supportive environment that emphasises psychological safety, enabling individuals to freely ask questions, contribute ideas, and express their thoughts.

Building and maintaining trust with employees is considered a high priority by 96 percent of CEOs. Additionally, 42 percent of CEOs acknowledge the growing significance of building trust and have increased their focus on this aspect in the past five years.

It comes as no surprise that 80 percent of HR professionals establish a connection between employee engagement and trust in leaders. Additionally, 55 percent of business leaders perceive a lack of trust in the workplace as a fundamental threat to their company.

1.It is important to listen more than you speak.

Each of your employees is a unique individual with their own ideas and viewpoints. Encourage individuals to express their thoughts openly, and when they do, actively engage in attentive listening. This forms the basis for fostering positive workplace relationships that are founded on mutual understanding and trust.

Explore the benefits of actively listening to your team members and how it can enhance the overall quality of life for everyone involved.

Engaging in active listening training is a beneficial approach to enhance your listening skills. To effectively understand your employees’ communication, it is important to actively ask them questions and encourage them to provide more detailed explanations. This deliberate effort will help you gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts and ideas. Every day presents numerous opportunities to listen. For example, allocate specific time during meetings for employees to openly discuss their work experience and express their feelings. It is important to keep in mind that you should be prepared to receive both positive and negative feedback. Additionally, it is crucial to show that you are open to feedback, regardless of whether you agree with it or not.

2.Seek and implement feedback.

HR professionals and managers are unable to be present at all times to gather important employee feedback. However, employees desire to have a voice within their organisation. In order to gain their trust, make sure to actively seek their feedback and promptly address any concerns or issues that arise.

It is important to consistently seek feedback from employees. Currently, only 10 percent of employees express satisfaction with the practise of requesting feedback once a year, whereas 64 percent desire the opportunity to provide feedback at any given time. I am searching for a feedback solution that includes pulse surveys. This will allow me to regularly collect input from team members and establish a continuous, employee-driven feedback channel, similar to a workplace chatbot.

After collecting feedback, analyse the results to identify areas of concern or high activity. By acting promptly, you can effectively address any weak areas before they escalate into significant problems. Ensure that you promptly communicate the results to your team and collaborate with them to identify potential actions that can be taken to enhance their workplace experience. Creating a collaborative action plan not only promotes transparency but also fosters a sense of value among employees.

It is crucial to promptly follow through with your actions in order to effectively communicate trust, respect, and empathy to your employees. If you fail to respond promptly, employees will rapidly become dissatisfied and perceive that their feedback holds no significance.

Bay Health, the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Delaware, has implemented an always-on feedback channel. This channel allows front-line leaders to receive real-time feedback regarding day-to-day issues that require immediate attention. The leaders received feedback from patient carers about a particularly challenging patient who made them feel unsafe, leading to high levels of stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. In response to the feedback, leaders have implemented de-escalation training to assist employees in recognising signs of patient anxiety and effectively managing these delicate situations.

3.Make it a habit to express gratitude on a daily basis.

While it is true that your employees receive a pay check for their work, it is important to recognise that this alone does not sufficiently convey your appreciation and confidence in them. Providing frequent recognition in real time is crucial. Recognition can be demonstrated through various means, such as sending thank you messages, providing verbal praise, and distributing tangible rewards like bonuses and employee awards.

Practising daily appreciation fosters a strong sense of community and enhances the emotional well-being of employees. By regularly acknowledging and recognising your team, you can establish trust and strengthen your relationship with them. According to research, around 90 percent of employees who receive gratitude or acknowledgment from their boss express a strong sense of trust in that person. The percentage decreased to 48 percent for workers who did not receive recognition. If you are looking to cultivate trust in your workplace, it is important to emphasise the direct connection between trust and recognition.

It is essential to remember that public recognition holds equal, if not greater, significance compared to private recognition when it comes to acknowledging employees. There are several ways to showcase your employees’ achievements. You can choose to highlight them during team meetings, create a hall of fame dedicated to their accomplishments, or share their successes through a company-wide newsfeed. Inform your colleagues within your organisation about the excellent performance of your workers. It is recommended to use a recognition platform that allows you to easily acknowledge and appreciate employees from any location and through various communication channels.

4.Empower your team by placing trust in them initially.

By taking the initiative to trust your employees and demonstrating it through your actions, you will foster an environment where they feel more inclined to reciprocate that trust in you. How can you effectively communicate your trust in your workers? Empower individuals by providing support and encouragement for their professional development, while also fostering a sense of autonomy. Increase their workload by assigning additional responsibilities. Extend an invitation for them to participate in meetings that they would not normally be included in. For example, consider inviting a sales representative to participate in a strategy meeting. Their firsthand experience and insights can be valuable in shaping your future sales and marketing plans. By demonstrating trust in others, you will leave a lasting impression on them. In return, you will gain valuable insights and perspectives from their individual experiences.

When you closely observe or micromanage your team’s work, it can make your workers feel as though you don’t trust them. Many employees prefer not to have someone looking over their shoulders. They desire to have enough trust placed in them so that they can work with minimal supervision. Trusting your employees and having faith in their knowledge and experience is exemplified by avoiding micromanagement. Demonstrate support without being overly intrusive, and make it clear that you are accessible without imposing any pressure on your employees. This way, your team will understand that you have confidence in their ability to make independent decisions, while also recognising that you are always available to assist if they require assistance.

5.Promote the practise of coaching.

Managers and leaders have a crucial role in establishing trust within the workplace. Numerous studies have demonstrated that authentic leadership has the ability to foster trust and enhance employee engagement and performance. One of the most effective approaches for them to achieve this is by adopting a coaching style with their employees, rather than adopting a traditional “boss” role and resorting to disciplinary measures after poor performance. When you provide coaching to your employees and meet their expectations, it increases the likelihood that they will trust you and be receptive to your advice.

When coaching employees, it involves offering additional training, support, and encouragement, particularly when they encounter difficulties. Although the majority of millennials rely on their manager for learning and development, only 46 percent of them feel that their manager effectively fulfils this role. By adopting a cheerleader role and guiding your employees towards success instead of simply managing them, you can unlock a wide array of benefits. These include a significant 22 percent increase in profitability and the improvement of work relationships for up to 77 percent of your organisation.

6.This is important to practise consistency.

Consistently backing up your words with actions is essential for building trust. You must demonstrate your consistency. Consistently practise what you preach, every day, to ensure that your team is aware of what to anticipate and does not have to question whether you will follow through on your commitments. If you expect your team to be punctual, make sure you also adhere to the same standard. If you expect your team to have a thorough understanding of your clients, it is important for you to also do your homework. Your employees will trust you because they know you will keep your word, led by example, and do a great job.

In addition to maintaining consistent performance, it is important to also ensure consistency in your mood.  Make an effort to remain calm, composed, and collected, even when faced with uncomfortable or challenging circumstances. Inconsistent moods can create feelings of nervousness and anxiety among employees, making it challenging for them to trust you.

In conclusion,

Recognition can be effectively communicated through various channels and enhanced by utilising a company-wide newsfeed. Additionally, employees can engage with these recognitions by liking and commenting on them through an intuitive and enjoyable user interface. Your employees have the opportunity to redeem points for rewards that hold genuine value to them. Recognising and celebrating achievements, no matter how big or small, is a wonderful approach to fostering a supportive environment where everyone is actively engaged in each other’s accomplishments.