5 Ways to Build Trust at the Workplace

Trust is the basis for building strong teams, creating a positive work culture and delivering good results. It is also a place for people to share their challenges and goals to reach their potential individually or as a team. So, what can you do as a leader or a reliable colleague to build a high level of trust among your colleagues?

Always tell the truth

It may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to slip. What if your colleague asks if you’ve finished a task you’ve neglected? You could choose to make an apology, or you could just acknowledge that you’ve forgotten about it, and you’re going to do it now. Even though your peers may see you as unreliable for a moment, at the very least, you are being truthful instead of giving an excuse or lying about it.

Act with integrity and maintain commitments

Integrity comes in a variety of forms, but the most significant characteristics expected at the workplace are dependability, honesty, loyalty and good judgment. Being an individual at work, having integrity means:

That your actions are consistent with your words

That you’re trustworthy, dependable and honest

That you communicate honestly and openly

That you have the right values, and behaviours that reflect these values

That you will admit to your mistakes and be open to show your concerns

Listen to: Raise Your Game: Leadership With Integrity

Pay attention to nonverbal signals

Non-verbal communication comprises your general body language, which involves your facial appearance and body posture as a type of communication at the workplace. Instead of verbal communication, individuals can interact through non-verbal gestures, such as facial expressions and eye contact. Some important non-verbal gestures, such as eye contact, nodding to indicate affirmation or interest, can help build trust.

Listen with intent

Don’t just wait for a chance to speak when you’re engaged in a discussion. Think seriously about what the person had to say before even asking a question. People will continue to engage with you if they know that you’re listening. Listening with intent is based on the principle of confirming understanding. Try the following 6 steps to practice your listening skills:

1. Talk me through your problem.

2. Listen to the problem and repeat the key points to validate your understanding.

3. Ask if you have got the facts right. Did you miss out anything?

4. If there is something that you are not aware or unfamiliar with, ask the right person to fill the missing piece of information.

5. Do the same for the other person, just in case of any missing points.

6. Confirm with actions, if any, that you may need to take as a result of the conversation.

Read: Listening Is the Key to Learning in Leadership

Take responsibility for your failures

When things go south, and you are responsible for it, the first reaction would probably be to blame others. Not only does this create a rift between you and your peers that you blame, it also badly impacts your ability to build trust with the people you work.

No-one would trust nor work with a blamer because they never know what this person could be saying behind their backs. If you take responsibility and are accountable for your failures and errors, people around you will recognise it. Your honesty and transparency can lead individuals to recognise your shortcomings and be more gracious towards you.