How to Build Trusting Relationships in the Company: Tips for HR Managers

Trust and appreciation are critical components for the success of any company. Workplace environments that foster mutual trust have employees who are often less stressed and always highly motivated. Managers understand best the effects—at least in principle, of how lack of trust can affect a company. Only those willing to foster a culture of trust can reap its rewards.

Organization Culture Shapes Workplace Relationships

It is a proven fact that companies with employee-centric cultures are more productive than those without. So, how exactly does one go about inculcating this culture effectively?

First, it is worth noting that you cannot simply buy a higher job satisfaction. Companies that use golden handcuffs as an employee-retention strategy often fail in the long run. Developing a trust-based culture is the only surefire way of making a meaningful difference. High-trust companies collaborate better with their workforce, have higher productivity levels, and retain their employees longer.

That said, let’s dive into how to build trusting relationships within companies.

1. Proper appreciation tactics
   Whenever workers do a nice job, acknowledging and appreciating them individually or collectively goes a long way in making them feel recognized. It is a fact that workers get remunerated for their job responsibilities; however, this is not always enough. When employees toil extra hard and add value to the company, it is only fair to be compensated appropriately. There are numerous ways of showing that workers are valued in a company.

   Apart from monetary rewards, sending employees appreciation messages, verbal applauses, and remembering their birthdays, including work anniversaries, is vital. It goes a long way in showing them how much you value them as part of the organization and not just as company assets.

   If you’re unsure about where to begin, Nuwber is a great place to obtain information about your colleagues’ birthdays and other special dates in their lives. You can find helpful information to break the ice and find topics to discuss and build connections over.

2. Listening and respecting other opinions
   Each staff member is distinct in their unique way. This means that each one of them will likely have different attitudes and viewpoints towards certain topics. To foster a healthy working relationship, it is important for every staff member to feel free to convey their views and ideas.

   Sometimes speaking alone isn’t enough. Workers’ opinions ought to be respected and heard intently. Developing deep trust with employees often requires that time be set aside for their positive or negative feedbacks to be received and addressed. Such is the foundation of constructive workplace relationships.

3. Equip workers with the right tools
   Leaders and HR specialists will not always be there to oversee the day-to-day duties of workers. Admins can, however, bridge this gap by availing the right tools and equipment. Self-service technology can make administration easier and also help save valuable time for both managers and employees. A workplace chatbot is a good example of a tool that makes giving feedback quite easy. Feedbacks help managers identify areas of weakness and the strong points in a company.

   The significance of having the right tools is that it allows the management to react swiftly and improve on areas of weakness before they worsen. With the right tools in place, communication in a company becomes easy, and workers can provide and obtain prompt feedback. Collaborative endeavors make workers feel acknowledged, and a functional feedback system is ideal for the growth of any company.

4. Fostering development via coaching
   Line managers and other leaders in an organization require proper skills and knowledge to perform HR roles effectively. For leaders and managers to get the most out of other employees, it is important to ensure they conduct proper coaching and development.

   Managers have a responsibility of fostering trust in a company. Trust goes a long way in ensuring employee engagement and performance are significantly improved. Traditional management techniques where managers act as bosses are no longer effective. Through coaching, however, employees develop trust, they will listen and learn more.

   

   When employees are properly coached, they get better training and tend to become more productive. Ordinarily, employees look for managers to equip them with proper knowledge and skills in different fields. Leaders who coach and encourage their employees to grow often get the most out of them and notice improved working relationships. Coached employees tend to develop confidence in performing their duties and display higher job satisfaction.

5. Embrace honesty and proper communication
   Effective communication is rooted in honesty. Regardless of the type of company, effective communication fosters a sense of trust and belonging. While it is true that sometimes it’s easier to give employees the information they would love to hear and not the truth, doing this may affect their trust. All relationships are founded on common trust and appreciation. When one party is found lacking in either, the bond becomes weak. HR specialists should embrace open and candid communication with their employees.

   Whenever a company changes any of its processes, its employees ought to be kept in the loop. Workers will not feel trusted when changes are made without them even being consulted or informed. When articulating issues in a company, it is vital to engage employees and get feedback from them.

   When you listen to your employees, it makes them feel that you value their opinion, and they will become more cooperative. HR ought to bridge the gap between employees and managers by fostering effective communication. This will contribute to strengthened working conditions and increased trust in the company.

The significance of mutual trust in a company cannot be overstated. HR specialists have a crucial role to play in fostering higher trust levels in a company. All companies go through hard times at some point, and in such cases, HR professionals ought to be honest and open with employees. Communication is instrumental in developing trust between employees and leaders. If an organization aims to build trust among its employees, it should further ensure regular coaching and development. The key to retaining employees and realizing higher productivity is appreciating their efforts promptly and establishing mutual trust.