Stephen M. R. Covey in The Speed of Trust described trust as “the one thing that changes everything.”
There are two things you will want to convey if you want to build trust in the workplace.
The first is: I am not a threat. People will see you as a threat if you use punishment or rewards to motivate them. Punishment is an obvious threat, but rewards are also a threat because implied in the offer of the reward is the threat that you will withhold the reward if they don’t meet the defined criteria. So, avoid punishments and rewards so those you lead don’t see you as a threat. Instead, show them that what they do matters to the organization and express gratitude for their contribution to the team.
The second thing you will want to convey to build trust in the workplace is: My only motive is to help you succeed. That is to be serving, not self-serving. This means that you set aside your personal ambitions and turn the spotlight on those you lead and then do all you can to help them succeed.
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