3 Ways to Build Trust in a Team


Mental Health Awareness Month is here, so what better time than now to talk about trust. For myself working in an environment where trust matters is important. Teams aren’t effective when there is no trust. A lack of trust leads to stress, conflict, disengagement, productivity, and decreased retention.

Even more so trust is important to the mental health of a team because it supports psychological safety. A 2015 Google study found the five keys to a successful team and the number one factor was psychological safety. Author and professor at Harvard Business School Amy Edmondson describe psychological safety as “a critical driver of high-quality decision making, healthy group dynamics and interpersonal relationships, greater innovation, and more effective execution in organizations.”

Here are 3 simple ways you can start the work to build trust among your team.

Build connection, communication, and compassion

To get to a place where you feel like others on the team have your back you have to first connect with them. Learn about their perspectives and find similarities in certain circumstances or walks in life. This will help to build communication especially if done with team members you don’t know well. Once you understand others, you’re better at accessing what they need from you to succeed and allotting them compassion.

Assume good intentions

Remember that everyone has different perspectives and preferences because we all have experienced life differently. Therefore, it’s not effective to jump to conclusions about another’s action or response. Next time you’re quick to judge or be offended take a leap of trust and ask yourself: was this a moment of positive intent?

Honor your word

Consistency is key, if you always do what you said you will do your team will trust you, and your manager will boost their autonomy. Trust is built when someone sees that you truly are showing up for them and you keep your commitment. 

At work, it’s not difficult to create a workspace that supports the positive mental health of its teams. When there is trust within an organization everyone feels a sense of belonging and purpose. They feel a part of achieving success for the team and overall the organization.

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