I want you to imagine a workplace where no body trusts anybody else.
What does that look like? When we don’t trust our work mates we conceal our mistakes and weaknesses because we don’t feel open enough to share them. In such an environment openness and honesty are usually the first casualties leaving suspicion and disharmony in their wake. When people don’t speak openly we are more likely to jump to conclusions and in an unsupportive work space people tend to focus on the shortcomings of others rather than their strengths. How tiring is it to work in a place like this? I’ll tell you, it’s exhausting!
We spend all our time and energy pussy footing around the people we don’t trust and constantly having to be careful about what we say to them. We are prey to paranoia and the suspicion that others are working to a hidden agenda.
Basically, without trust a work place is creatively stultifying, lacks creative energy and is chronically bad for one’s mental health. Oh yes and it’s also highly unproductive. But now picture this: We have trust! Suddenly it’s OK to make a mistake or ask for help. We are free to say something openly to a colleague without the worry that it will be taken in the wrong way. We feel safe enough to take risks and if we fail we can be secure in the knowledge that those around us have our backs. Everyone is focussed on the project not the politics and as a result we look forward to spending time with our work mates and focus on results not excuses. In this place everyone works together, learns together and grows together. What’s not to like? And all this can be yours.
So how are you going to build trust in your workplace?