Trust is the cornerstone of a high-functioning team. It fosters open communication, collaboration, and a culture where employees feel safe to share ideas, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. Without trust, team morale plummets, productivity suffers, and employee turnover increases. Trust-building isn’t a one-time effort; it requires consistent and intentional action from leaders.
Here, we’ll explore strategies to build trust within your team, along with two LEADJITSU-inspired activities that can be immediately applied to enhance team trust.
Why Trust Matters in the Workplace
- Enhances Communication: When trust exists, employees feel comfortable sharing thoughts, asking questions, and expressing concerns, leading to better team alignment.
- Boosts Productivity: Trust eliminates the need for micromanagement, enabling employees to work autonomously, which improves efficiency and motivation.
- Promotes Innovation: A trusting environment encourages team members to take creative risks without fear of criticism, fostering an atmosphere of innovation.
- Reduces Turnover: Teams that trust their leaders and peers are more satisfied with their work environment and less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.
- Builds Resilience: In times of challenge or change, a foundation of trust helps teams navigate uncertainty and remain cohesive.
Consider this...
A key statistic to consider when building trust in the workplace is that 58% of employees say they would trust a stranger more than their boss (Harvard Business Review). This highlights how vital trust is to employee engagement, retention, and productivity. When employees don’t feel they can trust their leaders, it impacts every level of team cohesion and performance. This statistic underscores the importance of consistent actions from leaders to build, maintain, and restore trust for a positive, engaged workplace culture.
Essential Steps to Building Trust on a Team
Model Transparent Communication: Leaders should communicate openly about team goals, company changes, and individual expectations. When leaders are clear about their intentions and decisions, team members feel informed and included.
Follow Through on Promises: Trust is built on reliability. Consistently following through on commitments—big or small—demonstrates accountability. Leaders who honor their word create a dependable and trustworthy reputation.
Encourage Feedback and Act on It: Create a safe environment where team members feel their feedback is valued. Make it a practice to ask for input, listen to suggestions, and implement changes where possible. When leaders act on feedback, it demonstrates respect for team members’ voices.
Celebrate Small Wins and Progress: Acknowledge team achievements regularly, not just during significant milestones. Celebrating small wins shows the team that their efforts are noticed and valued, reinforcing their trust in leadership.
Show Vulnerability and Authenticity: Demonstrate openness by admitting mistakes and acknowledging areas for growth. Leaders who show vulnerability foster a more authentic, trust-based relationship with their team, encouraging others to do the same.
Enter the Generational Leadership Dojo
In today’s workforce, success isn’t just about managing teams—it’s about creating harmony across generations. The LEADJITSU Multi-Generational Leadership Workshop is a powerful, interactive experience designed to bridge the gap between Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. This 2.5-hour workshop equips leaders with the tools to foster respect, inclusion, and clear communication across generations.
Through practical exercises and the LEADJITSU Leader’s Code, your team will learn how to leverage generational diversity for innovation, collaboration, and sustained success. It’s time to move beyond generational divides and unite your team with a shared vision.
Empower your team to thrive together. Let’s build a future where every generation contributes to creating a dynamic and inclusive workplace.
Schedule a complimentary consultation today.
LEADJITSU-Aligned Trust-Building Activities
LEADJITSU, with its focus on humanized leadership principles, offers strategies to foster trust and cohesion within teams. Below are two activities inspired by LEADJITSU’s principles of Dojo Respect and Bridge Communication to build and reinforce trust.
Activity 1: Trust Deposits and Withdrawals
Inspired by LEADJITSU Principle: Dojo Respect
Objective: To help team members identify behaviors that build or erode trust within the team.
Instructions:
Discuss Relationship Deposits and Withdrawals: Begin with a short discussion on how every interaction contributes to building (deposit) or withdrawing (withdrawal) trust. Give examples, like positive feedback being a deposit and not following through on promises being a withdrawal.
Group Activity: Divide the team into small groups and ask each group to list examples of actions that build trust and actions that break trust within the team.
Share and Reflect: Have each group share their lists, encouraging team members to provide examples or insights on how they can apply these concepts in daily interactions. This reflection not only strengthens mutual respect but also encourages everyone to adopt behaviors that contribute positively to team trust.
Outcome: This activity builds awareness around how individual actions affect team trust and encourages proactive behavior to create a supportive work environment.
Activity 2: Open Dialogue Circles
Inspired by LEADJITSU Principle: Bridge Communication
Objective: To foster open communication and deepen team members’ understanding of one another’s strengths, challenges, and values.
Instructions:
Set the Scene: Arrange chairs in a circle and invite everyone to participate equally. Explain that the purpose of the session is to foster understanding and openness in a safe, judgment-free environment.
Share and Listen: Each team member takes turns sharing a recent work challenge and how it impacted them emotionally. Other team members are encouraged to listen actively, without interruption, offering only supportive comments or encouragement afterward.
Team Reflection: After everyone has shared, facilitate a discussion on the importance of empathy and support in the team’s dynamic. Encourage team members to suggest ways they can be more supportive of each other, particularly during challenging times.
Outcome: This activity reinforces trust by encouraging vulnerability and empathy. It reminds team members that they are not alone in facing challenges and builds a foundation of mutual support.
Maintaining and Growing Trust Over Time
Building trust isn’t a one-time activity; it requires ongoing effort. Leaders should regularly reflect on their own actions, solicit feedback, and adapt their approach as needed. Investing in trust-building efforts fosters an environment where employees feel safe, valued, and motivated to bring their best selves to work.
When leaders commit to building trust through consistent actions and authentic connections, they create a culture where teams feel inspired and unified. LEADJITSU’s principles remind us that trust is nurtured through respect, communication, and empathy—qualities that allow teams to thrive even in challenging times.
Looking to learn more?
Implementing trust-building strategies and trust-building activities with your team can lead to remarkable improvements in morale and performance. Contact us to explore how LEADJITSU’s framework can transform your team’s trust dynamics.
