When there is trust amongst colleagues, workflow is smoother and employees are happier.
It is often up to the supervisor to foster trust between coworkers, but not many know how to do so. In this article, we will help by providing three ways to build trust in a team.
Collaboration
Sometimes, trust can build naturally, but the roadblock to that is simply the fact that colleagues do not know each other well enough to build the said trust.
Most offices consist of professionals who work independently on their own tasks, rarely communicating with others.
Some may strike up friendships in the cafeteria, but others don’t know their own co-workers, which makes it impossible to trust them when the need arises.
In order to promote trust, managers should make an effort to structure assignments to require collaboration; for example, assigning various parts of one project to different people.
This strategy will force colleagues to work together, which will go a long way in getting them to start trusting each other.
Recognise Skills
As stated previously, often, managers are responsible for building up trust in a team.
In order to do so, managers should help employees value each other; one way to do that is to recognise each person’s individual and unique skills, and showcase them to the entire staff.
For example, one employee can be an excellent writer, while another can be a fast typer.
You can encourage team members to turn to one another if they need help; this will promote communication and, eventually, trust to form.
Encourage Healthy Debate
Many people are afraid of conflict, and managers often forbid any disagreements in the office.
This can be a mistake, because a healthy debate, one where the participants are respectful and considerate of other’s opinions and feelings, can actually get coworkers to know each other better, and share their viewpoints.
This can foster bonds and friendships, as individuals learn to respect and trust each other.
Trust in a team leads to better employee retention, greater work outputs and less issues.
Foster trust in your team by using the three tips above.
Thanks again
Mark Williams
Head of Training and Development
Updated on: 26 February, 2016
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