The importance of building infallible trust
By Valerii P, Front-end and Back-end Drupal Master at WeAreBrain
There is a lot to be said about trust. It’s a value that can be built, grown, broken, lost and damaged. However, you choose to define trust, overlooking the importance of establishing trustworthy habits and behaviours in the workplace can have a severe impact on your team’s operations. We recently spoke to WeAreBrain’s Drupal Dev Expert, Valerii, about his thoughts on trust within his team.
A reporter once asked a famous monk what the most difficult experience in his life was. This monk had lived a long life and had many experiences. He pensively replied, “I lived in caves with snakes and scorpions, but [all of that] was much easier than cooperating with people”. For many, putting their trust in others can be difficult and challenging, especially when there is the risk of another team member not fulfilling their promises. Regardless of the situation, working in a trust-free environment can be challenging and difficult.
Let’s look at the example of a technology company where, each day, the various teams come together to brainstorm and develop innovative products and services. There are lengthy discussions, tough decisions and numerous tasks which are delegated to team members. Without complete trust in the reliability of the team, the company wouldn’t stand a chance.
But what is trust?
Trust is broadly defined as confidence in a person’s good faith, decency and honesty. An optimistic expectation of a person who is dependent on another person or group of people. The hope that the people we depend on will meet our expectations. This is a voluntary commitment to protect the rights and interests of those we trust.
Valerii’s recipe for building trustworthy relationships at work:
1. Be reliable
No team can ever truly call itself trustworthy when there is a lack of reliability. Team members who stick to their word and consistently deliver what they have promised lay excellent foundations for successful working environments.
2. Be polite
Praise, gratitude and politeness are always appreciated in every aspect of life. Letting team members know that they are appreciated and respected is fundamental to fostering a polite and trustful workspace.
3. Ask for forgiveness
Everything is not always within our control. Never be too proud to ask for forgiveness if, for some reason, you have let someone down. Accepting that you are wrong and apologising helps others to restore their trust in you and makes effortless cooperation a more likely outcome.
4. Manage expectations
It is important to explain your expectations when it comes to having an effective working relationship. Seek to understand others. Often we only look at situations with our own eyes. But to really understand another person, you need to consider things from their perspective.
5. Set clear goals
When we set clear goals, we let other people understand that we are dedicated to our work. It shows initiative and inspires others to believe in our capabilities. It’s important to be ready to implement the actions we have promised. It’s also important to evaluate our successes and failures to improve and grow. There are no victories without defeats. One must be able to draw conclusions from the experience gained.
6. Care
It may seem fairly obvious but approaching others compassionately is very important. Showing team members that you are sensitive to their needs, happiness and wellbeing lets them know they are in a safe environment in which they can be honest about their capabilities and ability to meet deadlines, efficiently.
In conclusion
To successfully complete any project, a team must not only be highly competent but must also be able to cooperate with each other, ensuring the formation of a trusting relationship which will bring satisfaction and positive results.
We’d love to hear your techniques for establishing trust within your teams so leave us a comment below…
Paula Ferrai
Working Machines
An executive’s guide to AI and Intelligent Automation. Working Machines takes a look at how the renewed vigour for the development of Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Automation technology has begun to change how businesses operate.
