The Signs of Low Trust

Posted on January 29th, 2014

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Getting the most of your employees often comes down to building a solid foundation of company trust.

Management

It comes as no surprise that in order for people to follow, they need to trust their leaders. Employees just want the truth more than ever and they need their leaders to have their backs. If this is so, why is it that so many organizations struggle to achieve and maintain trust, yet fail to achieve commitment from their staff? Sadly, throughout the world, many people have real trust issues with their management, but what are the warning signs? Akhtaboot lists the warning signs of low trust to lookout for in an organization.

Avoiding Contradict

Many employees chose not to standup for what they believe in and try to avoid conflict at all costs. They prepare not to voice their opinions as they are afraid to fail. These are all signs of lack of trust. Employees who try to avoid conflict hesitate to ask for help or to provide constructive feedback. This creates an environment where back-channel politics and personal attacks thrive. Another enemy of trust is selective communication. These occurs when only information that makes employees look good is communicated while “bad news” is delayed or avoided all together. When employees the courage to try to unleash their full potential that of others, it often becomes an challenge to trust their judgment and overall capabilities.

Hoarding Information

An evident sign of having trust issues is when employees act secretive, territorial, and cautious around other team members. Information hoarding can be a result of personal insecurity or from past delaying with unethical or discriminatory management. It should be a leader’s top priority to make commination a commitment for each team member and assess them on this as a part of the annual review. Make sure that the team is recognized for collaborative results and not just individual achievements and ensure that all members know that team success is their priority.

High Turnover

Turnover is a major issue impacting the performance and profitability to many companies and it is a result of lack of trust. Organizations are increasingly taking proactive steps to build high trust cultures because it helps improve turnover rates. By extending trust to their employees, leaders can demonstrate their willingness to support them, which eventually leads to lower turnover rates.

Job Burnout

Lack of trust leads to job burnout, exhaustion, depersonalization and feelings of being ineffective at work. If leaders do not strive to change that by creating a positive culture that energizes people, there will be consequences. To improve your employees’ moral you need to get inside their heads. Make transparency the norm; the more you communicate, the more you foster trust and the more loyalty built. Host frequent town hall meetings in which you listen to employees’ fears, concerns and ideas and share your vision for the future.

They Don’t Listen

In order for employees to trust their company, they expect management to deliver on their promises and to be honest and open in all communications. If you fail to do that, they will stop listening to you. Be clear in letting employees know what you expect from them, and what they can expect of you in return. Put new policies in writing, and if you are changing standard operating procedures, be specific when you tell employees what the changes mean. Ask for input to show you are listening to their needs, which will set the stage for insisting they listen to you as well.

Source: www.akhtaboot.com