Managerial Strategies for Instilling Trust in Your Employees

Emma Sturgis

November 03, 2014

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When employees feel they can't trust their employers, it shows in their work. They are not as dedicated, ambitious, or willing to go above and beyond their job description. Employees who trust their employers tend to work both harder and more efficiently. They feel they are appreciated as individuals, and not as machines hired to simply get the job done. In order to keep quality employees, employers should make developing and maintaining a high level of trust as a top priority.

Be Honest

Trust goes hand-in-hand with honesty. The moment an employee feels they have been lied to, their morale diminishes. They will do what is required of them, and nothing more, sometimes not even fulfilling that obligation. It's important for leaders to have open and honest communications with their staff, not only with positive things, but with negative things as well. It is a testament to an employee's intelligence and ability to adapt when an employer trusts them to handle news, no matter how difficult and unpleasing it may be.

Allow a Deep Level of Involvement

Instead of just passing out assignments and expecting everyone to follow a strict set of rules and guidelines when getting work done, allow for employee input. Leaders should make the company's goals clear and available to employees on all levels. They should not only be open to suggestions, they should actually consider them. Although it is wise to have a set process for communicating ideas in order to keep them organized, an employee should be allowed to participate in establishing ways to improve the company.

Positive Company Culture

Leaders should be in-tune with their employees. They should make themselves seen around the office, instead of just being a name at the bottom of emails, or listed in the company directory. It's hard for someone to trust a person they never see, or feel uncomfortable talking to. Nancy Haskins, who holds an online degree in Business Management, says that supervisors and employers should always be approachable. This encourages open, productive discussion between employees and management.

While it is acceptable to list statistics and evaluate departments that may need improvement, employers should be careful about singling out an employee and blaming him or her for negative results. When unpleasant news is shared, the next step should be to provide a positive outlook, and allow for time for brainstorming.

Be Trustworthy

The number one way employers can instill trust in their employees is by being trustworthy. Employers should be careful about making promises they may not be able to keep. In cases where unexpected events cause promises to be broken, leaders should immediately relay this information instead of trying to cover it up, or denying the promise was ever made. When circumstances permit, the promise should be reevaluated and honored.

It is true that it'll be a rare occasion when everyone at a company is totally happy with what's going on. However, it doesn't mean employers shouldn't try. Trust between all employees is a must to maintain a successful company.