How to Build Trust In Your Team

Trust is a vital ingredient in a productive, cohesive team. When people in a team trust each other, they feel like they are in a safe environment, free from blame.

People in a trusting team are much more likely to show commitment to the team and to feel compelled to do a great job. For leaders, trust is important because they need to believe that their team members will be able to get the job done and work well with others.

However, trust goes both ways. Not only do you need leaders to trust the team members, team members also need to trust the leadership. A low trust environment can destroy confidence as people believe their boss is out for themselves and don’t have their best interests at heart.

Compared with people at low-trust companies, people at high-trust companies report: 74% less stress, 106% more energy at work, 50% higher productivity, 13% fewer sick days, 76% more engagement, 29% more satisfaction with their lives, 40% less burnout.

– Article: The Neuroscience of Trust, Paul J. Zak

In this episode, I talk about a simple trust model to help you think about it differently, some good ways to build trust in a team and why it matters.