The numbers of people working virtually have exploded since the pandemic began in the United States, in March 2020. Issues at-home workers are navigating now include, among many others, establishing and building trust within the team when everyone is socially distanced. Our distance from one another, however, does not have to mean an automatic decrease in the number of mutually trustful relationships. It simply means that we must renew our efforts to make moment-by-moment choices that build trust…defined as the “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.”
Why does trust matter?
Deloitte Insights recently posted an article by Punit Rengen called “The value of resilient leadership: Renewing our investment in trust.” While this article speaks mostly to the issue of trusting companies and their leaders, it makes several critical points about the vital role trust plays:
- People who trust one another navigate conflicts and solve problems more rapidly.
- Trust builds social cohesion between people, which is a predictor of long-term prosperity and competitiveness.
- Rebuilding the economy and organizations within it will require maximum and mutual trust.
How do you build trust?
- Recognize that trust is an ongoing two-way street that is not top-down. Not only must you seek to be trustworthy, you must also extend that to others. This process is a continuous one, whereby you consciously engage with others in ways that build trust. Remember that extending trust to you is a gift from the other person, not a requirement.
- Act with competence and positive intent. This requires a pattern of choices that show you are invested in the other’s success and are willing to do your part and follow through on commitments. Think about Green Path choices as a great starting point in building trust.
- Trust is important with many stakeholder groups – your peers, direct reports, boss(es), customers and communities to name a few. Make sure to recognize the mutual value of trust in all of these stakeholder groups.
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust,” wrote J.M. Barrie in Peter Pan. There may be a shortage in pixie dust, but trust can be something we accumulate exponentially.
How are you building trust these days? What impact is that making? Comment below or message us. We’re remote, but always committed to your success.
Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash