An organization may have the best candidates and the best workplace but without trust these all mean nothing. Not only does it make employees feel secure but it also further motivates the employees and enhances their productivity. Trust isn’t only about providing a safety net for employees but also helping them express ideas for innovation.

Let’s further explore why trust matters in the workplace.

Why does trust matter in the workplace?

Trust is essential for an individual's mental health and the overall well-being of the organization. Moreover below are some reasons why trust matters in workplace:

1. Increased productivity and creativity

When you trust your employees it allows them to experiment with their work and come up with new solutions for the on going problems. Not only this but when you take the pressure and stress away from an employee then it enhances their productivity as it allows them to work freely and makes them feel like their work actually matters. 

2. Fosters positive work environment

Trust creates a safe environment for open communication and collaboration. This lets ideas flow comfortably and allows us to talk about problems openly. When leaders and employees trust each other they become aware of each other's problems therefore coming up with proper ways to solve it early on.

3. Retain talented Candidates

Talented candidates appreciate a place where they are trusted and can trust others. In environments like this they get a sense that their work is actually valued and they get to speak up when they get dissatisfied regarding any aspect of the work. 

4. Maintain your brand

When your employees talk about your company outside it, what do they say? This is a major way through which your branding is shaped. Trust issues will only work against your branding.  

5. Enhances decision-making

Employees enhance your decision making process when they get to express their opinion. And it is impossible to create an environment where they get to express themselves openly without trust. 

What happens when trust issues occur in workplace ?

Trust issues don't only impact the inner workings of any company but also reflect in various ways in the market. Trust issues can make or break a company both in terms of productivity and creativity. Here are some ways in which trust issues impact workplace :

1. High Turnover

When there are trust issues it is easier for employees to be dissatisfied with the work conditions. Not only this but they also feel unsupported and increasingly become less and less engaged. 

2. Declining Engagement

Trust issues make employees feel as if their voice doesn’t matter as a result making them disengaged. Not only this but when their ideas and communication effort show no result they give up on trying.

3. Lack of Transparency

Trust is obviously correlated with communication. Open and honest communication encourages both the leaders and the employees to talk about their decisions and expectations. If leaders have trust issues then it leads to vague updates and limited context for major changes.

4. Accountability Decreases

The fear of blame increases as the trust decreases. Employees may feel that admitting their mistake may be dangerous rather than owning their errors. Without psychological safety, accountability drops rapidly as admitting mistakes requires trust. 

5. Decision-Making Becomes Conservative

When trust is low whether between employees, leaders, or across teams people naturally shift from risk-taking to risk-avoidance. Similarly low-trust environments reduce open communication and this lack of information makes the base their decisions on assumptions and limited context.

How to handle trust issues in workplace?

Now that we have gone through why trust is essential in workplace and what happens in the presence of workplace a question may arise: how to actually handle trust issues in workplace. Well here are some tips to help you build trust in workplace:

1. Be honest and transparent

Honest and transparent communication helps improve relationships and collaboration between the  employees of the same organization. This demonstrates respect and reduces uncertainty. 

2. Take Accountability

Mistakes are inevitable for humans to some extent, what really matters is the accountability for the mistake and the work as a whole. When only there is accountability can an employee feel like their contribution matters. This also encourages each and every employee to do their part of the work. 

3. Encourage feedback

Encourage your employees to share their ideas, perspectives and concerns. This sort of two-way communication allows for the identification of the problem from the very root. Not only this but it also provides a platform for employees to voice their dissatisfaction.

4. Recognize efforts

Recognition matters to motivate employees and increase their engagement. Whether its praise or tangible awards showing employees that their work matters strengthens trust and boosts and morale. 

5. Follow through commitments

Reliability is one of the strong foundations for trust. Doing what you said you would do is the best way to build trust. Make sure to be honest if you are unable to complete the designated tasks.

Trust plays a critical role in fostering a positive workplace. While trust issues may be a huge obstacle in workplace, it can be managed with equal efforts from both the employers and the employees.