How to Build Trust in the Workplace

When you’re faced with a challenging project and you need to work with a new team, it can feel daunting. Particularly if it’s something you’ve not done before and you have a tight deadline.

That scenario is a typical example of needing to put your trust in strangers. Of course, you may have an opportunity to pick your team. But if you’re simply told that you need to work with this new bunch of people who you’ve never met before, or hardly know, building trust quickly is essential.

First, Learn to Trust Yourself

During my sporting career, I realised I needed to trust not only others but also myself. I had to trust myself to do all that essential training while also trusting the people around me who helped throughout the training and supported me at the events.

I realised that being fully prepared was crucial. I needed to be well trained. But it was also essential to do the warm-up just before an event to really succeed.

I’d do my warm-up exercises in front of the person I was about to compete with. Then, as soon as the Ref said, “Hajime!” (Japanese for ‘go’), the switch flipped. Immediately, my mind said, “You’re ready for this!” Muscle memory kicks in and the fight is on.

All my previous experience and preparation made me aware of how I reacted to nerves and the people around me in that moment. Doing that high impact preparation immediately before the event put me in that mode.

I’d learnt to trust myself and my instincts.

It’s the Same in Business

As you prepare for that big presentation, trust in yourself that you’ve done this before. Because, as I always say, practise makes progression!

When you’ve put that preparation time in beforehand – all those hours preparing a script, slides, or creating a brand-new proposal – learn to trust in yourself that you can do this. You can present to a room of hundreds of people. You can inspire your boss or clients to take on your new vision.

Having trust in your abilities strengthens your resilience.

Just before the event, mentally go through what’s going to happen. Have a final rehearsal of how you expect that conversation to go with the boss. Review your presentation in your mind as you wait for the houselights to dim. Do some deep breaths, stand tall, then step into the spotlight – you’re ready!

That mental exercise just before will help to flip your switch and sharpen your senses. Then, as you walk through the door, you’ll be on fire, ready to deliver a killer presentation.

Building the Trust Bridge

Building trust is as much about developing resilience as it is about creating a bond with someone. We need to dig deep to build that trust and get to know them. Understand how they tick. Find out what they like to do in their spare time – hobbies, sports, family life.

How often do you have conversations about things unrelated to work with your team? It’s a good thing to do; a way of building bonds and developing trust. When you ask someone on a Friday what they’re up to at the weekend, make a point of remembering so that you can ask them on Monday how that sporting event went, their child’s birthday party, or if the dinner they attended was fun.

Making an effort to get to know someone helps them to trust you. It’s more than simply wanting a rapport so that they’ll do things for you. Trust and friendship, or at least a good connection, should be about respecting one another and providing mutual support to really get things done as part of a team.

There are three elements to trust building:

1.    Credibility – the knowledge that you can talk to the person about something important and they will listen, advise if wanted, and not talk down to you.

2.    Reliability – knowing that they can keep information confidential, that they’re true to their word and will stick to plans. They’ll meet you when asked and not cancel at the last minute, other than for something truly urgent.

3.    Rapport – a massive element of trust is having a good rapport. That rapport helps to strengthen your trust bridge as well as your connection as you work together.

Supportive, trusting relationships are particularly important when things get tough.

It cannot be emphasised enough how incredibly valuable it is to have people to talk to and share things with during difficult times. From trusted friends and colleagues to your friendly coach.

When someone has your back and you have theirs, things will always work out. We need those relationships in our lives to help us succeed, both at work and at home.