Building a culture of trust
Trust has always been at the heart of high-performing teams, but now that many people are working remotely, building trust is absolutely essential.
Here are 6 things you can do to increase trust at your workplace. Role model them from the executive level down and up (to the Board).
1. Measure performance not face time!
Determine the key metrics to measure performance against your business/team goals. Put systems in place for the metrics.
You can then control the business outcomes without controlling how, when and where work is done. This gives you the comfort to trust teams to get the work done. The metrics will tell you where there are performance gaps or business issues that need to be addressed.
2. Communicate expectations clearly
Misunderstanding loves a vacuum!
Give people the goals and expectations they need to do their job — and the ability to access your expertise. Then step out of the way. (You can only do this, of course, if you have a rigorous process for measuring and checking in on outcomes.)
3. Empower
Once people are clear on the outcomes required of them, empower them to get the work done the way they think best.
Trust should be assumed, not something to be earned.
4. Be authentic
Bring your whole self to work and encourage others to do the same.
Sharing what’s going on for you outside work — the challenges as well as the good stuff — makes it feel safer for others to do the same.
5. Be interested and empathetic
Take time to be present and ask your team about their interests and aspirations at and outside work.
Show you care about them by checking in on the small things that you know they care about.
6. Be accountable
Deliver on your commitments to your team and to others.
If you say you are going to do something, do it. Create the environment for everyone else to do the same.