Have you ever worked in a low trust environment? It’s the kind of team where you’ll find it hard to express yourself without fear of being downplayed or chastised.
Sure, you don’t want to be in that kind of team, but it’s likely you are unavoidably in that situation. It doesn’t feel good and doesn’t provide a safe work environment.
Trust is key in any relationship, especially among team members. A study conducted by Google showed that the highest performing teams have one thing in common: psychological safety, otherwise known as trust.
If you have problems building trust with your colleagues and you’re wondering how it’s done, worry no further. In this article, we’re going to be talking extensively about the 7 ways to build trust in a team.
7 Ways to Build Trust in a Team
Let’s find out.
1. Be Accountable
One of the 7 ways to build trust in a team is by being accountable. If you’re leading a team, it is so important that you practice what you preach.
Lead by example and demonstrate trustworthiness through your actions. You walk the talk, not just talk the talk. Be reliable, consistent, and accountable. You have to show your team the same trust you expect them to place in you. When team members witness your integrity and commitment and how you passionately treat each member, they are more likely to reciprocate and trust one another.
If everyone understands that they’re going to be held to the same level of accountability they expect from others, these things wouldn’t be too difficult. With accountability, you’ll build some amazing trust. You’ll create a safe environment for work to thrive.
So, if you want to build trust in your team, make sure you are accountable and that you lead by example. Be accountable to the top management and your team members.
2. Build Morale
Another great way to build trust in a team is by building the morale of team members by fostering a positive environment. It is shown that when people are connected and enjoy their work, it has positive impacts on everything going on in their lives. This is true and can be seen in their productivity and the way they interact with their team members, thereby building trust amongst the team.
So ensure that you build morale. Create a positive and inclusive environment that promotes trust and psychological safety. Encourage diversity of thought and respect for different perspectives.
Emphasize the value of each team member’s unique strengths and contributions. When individuals feel respected and included, they are more likely to trust and collaborate with others.
You could create time and let team members partake in an exercise. Exercises like ponchos, icebreaker games, trust falls, appreciation circles, team building retreats, and a host of others you could do research on are perfect for building trust among team members. Carefully pick one at a time while seeking the opinion of team members.
In all, just ensure you’re getting team members connected and increasing morale for a positive work environment. That way, everyone will be happy, give their very best to team tasks, and also appreciate and trust one another better.
3. Don’t Play the Blame Game
Taking responsibility for any mistake that happens and not playing the blame game is one of the 7 ways to build trust in a team. If you are going to build trust, then you need to ensure that you’re not busy pointing accusing fingers at people. Be quick to nip in the bud any team member who does that.
It’s really easy that in stressful situations you are tempted to say, “it’s so and so’s fault.” Or you could say, “If we got that on time, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in.” But, hey, take a deep breath. Quit stressing. Sit back and look at things for what they are.
Don’t play the blame game. Show your team members that, as a trusting team, you are going to take responsibility for your actions and you’re going to back everybody up. Not like covering up for bad deeds but stepping into the other person’s shoes and showing empathy.
4. Value Your Team Members’ Equally
One effective way to build trust in a team is by valuing each team member equally. If you’re big on building trust in your team, then everyone needs to know that they’re special. You have to know them and make them see and understand their unique strengths. Let them know they are valued.
Now here’s the thing about playing favorites: It’s okay to have a favorite or two on your team; you probably rely on them a little bit more. Maybe they’re a little bit better than others at what they do, or you kind of get along with them better. However, you should be wise enough not to let that affect your or their relationship with other team members. Treat everyone equally.
It’s really terrible when someone feels like they’re invisible or has to worry about not having the same attributes that make others likable just because of how they are treated in a team. It could only be that you are in a better relationship with those favorites because your personalities are the same. You shouldn’t single them out and relate to them more often, leaving the others behind. Such an attitude creates strain in team building.
So ensure that you value everyone equally. You acknowledge and appreciate everyone just the same way. Be intentional about it. Do it like you’re a parent. You shouldn’t have a favorite child. If you do, the kids get it. They know it. It’s not easy to hide, and it leads to bad behavior. In essence, valuing every team member equally is one of the 7 ways to build trust in a team.
5. Open Communication
Another intriguing way of building trust in a team is by encouraging open communication among team members. Research has consistently shown that transparent communication is vital for establishing trust within a team. Encourage team members to share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns freely. It’s really important that you have open and respectful communication among team members.
You could implement regular team meetings where everyone has the opportunity to openly contribute ideas to a particular topic and make suggestions. Do not let anyone shut any of the members up or laugh and mock them while they’re sharing their ideas. Ensure a safe and non-judgmental environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their opinions.
If you want to see that your team members are building trust and are closely connected, then you have to teach them how to communicate accordingly and effectively. Ensure they bring up their feelings and do not conceal them. You are to address and resolve those issues as soon as they come up.
Read also: 5 ways to remotely share files with your team.
6. Set Expectations
One vital way to build trust in a team is by setting up a team working agreement. Organizing a daily or weekly meeting to outline goals and set targets would be key to resolving this. Everyone should be a part of this planning. Team members could join their voices together to have a unique goal, and they should ensure that they work together to achieve these set goals.
Having this discussion at the beginning of the day, or at least the beginning of a new week, is going to set a good foundation for the week’s or day’s kickoff and great landing. As a leader, you are responsible for ensuring no one is left behind. Everyone should move with the pace at which other team members are moving and work towards the success of the team’s goals. That’s how to build trust in a team.
7. Build Personal Relationship
Build personal relationships with your team members if you want to build trust in them. We spend so much time at work; why not make it count? Aside from building relationships and trust as a team, you could try creating a more interpersonal relationship with each of your team members. Don’t you think it is easier to build trust with people we know personally?
Many of them are going through a lot of challenges with family, finances, careers, and other parts of their lives. You could strike deeper communication with each of them at different times and get them to share their innermost burdens with you. While they do, you should ensure you lend them a shoulder to lean on, accompanied by some words of encouragement and advice.
The Takeaway from the 7 Ways to Build Trust in a Team
What kind of trust are we talking about here? To explain this better, I’m going to quote a favorite talk from Patrick Lencioni. It says,
“We are not looking for a predictive trust where we work together for long enough that we know what to expect from each other; we want to create a vulnerability-based trust.”
This is the kind of trust environment where people are willing to show their weaknesses, ask for help, apologize, and admit mistakes. An environment where people are not afraid to be vulnerable. This is the kind of trust you should create and build among team members for a safer and better work environment.
