5 ways to get your coworkers to trust you
Whether you’re a manager or an entry-level new hire, you can do your part to make your office a better workplace for the whole team — here are five tips for making it happen.
Trust your team, and they'll trust you
"The mistake that many people make when building trust is to expect others to trust them without the individual first showing trust,” says Harvey Deutschendorf, an emotional intelligence expert, internationally published author and sought-after speaker. “When we start out with the belief that others are trustworthy until they prove us wrong, we will encourage and motivate others to trust us in return."
If you're a manager, Harvey advises that the best way to demonstrate trust in your employees is to allow them the opportunity to be creative and try new ideas—and stand behind them even when things don't work out as planned.
Dani Cardona / Reuters
Be transparent
Your team needs to feel like they're in the loop.
"Share everything that's going on with your work, including bad news, in a timely manner," Harvey advises. Transparency is key to building strong relationships at work.
"Keeping our ideas and feelings private when we first form relationships is a good idea, but as the relationship develops, we need to open up," says Harvey. "Failing to do so creates distrust."
When appropriate, be open—about your opinions, your work and your life outside of the office.
Stay consistent
Convey the same information to your boss, your peers and those working under you.
"Be congruent and give the same message consistently regardless of the circumstances or audience," says Harvey. This is particularly key for managers. "Managers need to elevate themselves above the seductive trap of favoritism," says Harvey. "In everyday life, we have people we like more than others and we treat them accordingly. When managers do this, they lose their employees' trust."
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