High-functioning teams are the catalyst for thriving businesses. These teams are more than a collection of talented individuals; they are a cohesive unit that operates with purpose and shared values. The Express Blog’s High-Functioning Teams series explores the essential traits and practices that enable teams to achieve outstanding results together.
Trust among teams is essential for autonomy, meeting goals, collaboration, and ultimately, business success. Trust must be shared between leaders and their reports, among peers, and from individual contributors up the chain of command.
The Cost of Distrust
A lack of trust can have dire consequences. It creates a negative environment where employees may be overly cautious and afraid to take risks, fearful of making mistakes, or wary of coworkers with whom they should have working relationships. Distrust can lead to a lack of engagement, efficiency, collaboration, and job satisfaction.
PwC’s 2024 Trust Survey unveiled that 86% of executives highly trust their employees, yet only 60% of employees feel highly trusted. The only way to avoid the consequences of distrust is to intentionally build a culture of trust. Everyone in the workplace impacts the team’s trustworthiness, both as individual contributors and as a unit. Communication, accountability, and honesty are key to trust building.
Leaders Can Inspire Trust
Bestselling author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek shares insights on how leaders can foster trust and psychological safety.
Other ways leaders can create trust include:
- Honor risk-taking and making mistakes when possible. Can the team try a new process? Would an employee like to try a new skill? Find ways to allow trial and error without setting people up to fail.
- Encourage healthy ways of working through conflicts. If you aren’t confident in your conflict resolution skills, speak with your company’s HR or pursue training.
- Be the example. Don’t participate in toxic behaviors that erode trust.
- Encourage team building activities to improve trust. Simply getting to know each other can create common ground and understanding.
How Employees Can Build Trust with Each Other
- Employees can cultivate trust by investing in relationships with each other.
- Being honest and willing to work with others. This means handling conflicts well, including those you have caused and those caused by others.
- Set the standard. Avoid engaging in toxic behaviors that break trust.
Building trust is a continual process that everyone can contribute to. Through a culture of trust, businesses can support teams that are high-functioning, resilient and successful.
About Express Employment Professionals
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