How To Rebuild Trust In The Workplace? 6 Tips For Managers

Trust is the foundation of any successful workplace. It’s what helps teams work together effectively, promotes open communication, and drives success. However, trust can be easily broken; once that happens, it can take a long time to repair. Broken trust can lead to decreased productivity, higher employee turnover rates, and a toxic work environment. But don’t worry; building trust is possible with effort and commitment. In this post, we’ll cover how trust can be broken in the workplace, its consequences, and, most importantly, six effective tips for rebuilding it. So if you’re looking for ways to restore trust in your workplace or team dynamics, keep reading! As Tolstoy noted at the start of his acclaimed novel Anna Karenina, “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” In short, there’s no single way to mess up a situation. While healthy workplaces and teams carry a standard set of features, the causes of distrust can vary greatly. This idea, known as the Anna Karenina principle, helps us understand that there’s no common checklist of things that destroy trust. The root cause can often be different and hard to figure out. Some of the most common causes of lack of trust at work are:
  • Lack of Communication: Poor communication, withholding information, providing ambiguous messages, or not informing employees about important matters can lead to mistrust. Open and transparent communication is essential for building and maintaining trust.
  • Inconsistent Behavior: Your senior told you to prepare a report but discarded it when you shared it. How would you feel? Discontent and annoyed, at the least. When leaders or colleagues exhibit erratic behavior, such as saying one thing and doing another, it can undermine trust. Consistency in actions and words is critical for building and sustaining trust over time.
  • Lack of Accountability: Inconsistent accountability for actions, especially when mistakes occur, can damage trust. A culture that avoids taking responsibility for errors and failures can lead to a lack of trust in the workplace.
  • Micromanagement: Micromanaging employees signals a lack of trust in their abilities. It creates a negative work environment and diminishes employees’ confidence in their skills and the trustworthiness of their leaders. A lack of empathy and understanding for employees’ concerns, challenges, or personal situations can lead to a breakdown in trust. Trust is often built on genuine care and consideration for others, which you must explicitly and repeatedly display.
  • Unfair Treatment: When your team perceives that they are not treated fairly, whether in terms of promotions, rewards, or day-to-day interactions, it can lead to a breakdown in trust. Fair and equitable treatment is essential for a trusting workplace. Feeling unappreciated can lead to less trust between employees and leaders.
  • Hidden Agendas: When individuals or teams have hidden agendas that are not transparent, it can lead to suspicion and a lack of trust. Openness and honesty about goals and intentions are crucial for maintaining trust.
  • Confidentiality Breaches: Sharing confidential information inappropriately or failing to keep sensitive information confidential can damage trust. Employees need assurance that their personal and professional information is handled with care.
Building trust in the workplace is all the more crucial in the present era, as highlighted by the Edelman Trust Barometer. While trust in government and society is falling worldwide, workplaces are often the last remaining bastions of confidence for individuals. For many, it is the sole spot for debate and camaraderie. Losing out on this shot at society leaves employees frustrated and less engaged. MIT Sloan Management Review’s research shows that trust is a critical driver of engagement. Trusting employees are 260% more motivated to work, have 41% lower absenteeism rates, and are 50% less likely to look for another job. On the other hand, roughly 1 in 4 workers don’t trust their employer. But, most employers overestimate their workforce’s trust level (by almost 40%.) Hence, the imperative falls on managers to focus on rebuilding trust at work as soon as they spot the signs. Some signs of a lack of trust in the workplace can include:
  • People not sharing information or collaborating openly
  • Employees avoiding eye contact or being hesitant to speak up in meetings
  • Team members working in silos rather than as part of a cohesive group
  • A lack of transparency in decision-making processes or communication
  • Gossiping or rumors spreading throughout the workplace
  • Micromanagement by managers or an over-reliance on control and rules
  • High turnover rates or low employee engagement and morale.
If you notice these signs, addressing them with your team to foster a more positive and trusting work environment is essential. Building trust takes time and effort, but it is vital for creating a healthy and productive workplace culture. Read more here: 10 powerful ways of building trust in the workplace that managers love
Rebuilding trust in the workplace can be daunting, but it’s essential to regain a positive work environment. The first step is acknowledging the issue and taking responsibility for any actions that may have caused distrust. It requires being honest with yourself and your team about what has happened and not blaming others. It takes courage, but admitting fault shows that you are committed to making things right and is crucial for gaining trust.

Acknowledge the Issue

As per a PwC report, about half of employees (54%) report experiencing a trust-damaging event. Over half (53%) report leaving the company after the incident. This data should raise alarm bells for managers and make them open to acknowledging a lack of trust when it occurs. The experience can be uncomfortable, but it will surely help your bottom line. When trust is broken in the workplace, knowing where to begin when trying to rebuild, it can be challenging. However, the first step is always acknowledging the issue at hand. Leaders should take responsibility for any actions or behaviors that may have contributed to the loss of trust and offer a genuine apology. Creating a safe space where employees feel comfortable sharing their concerns, feedback, and feelings honestly is essential. Active listening and collaboration are critical components of this process, ensuring everyone feels heard and that solutions are identified together. Rebuilding trust takes effort, but acknowledging the issue is the first step toward creating a more positive and productive work environment.

💡Pro tip: Think about a problem your team is experiencing. how might broken trust be contributing to the difficulty? It will help you visualize all the affected areas where you need to work.

Make a commitment to change

When trying to rebuild trust in the workplace, committing to change is essential. Acknowledging past mistakes and taking responsibility for any actions that may have contributed to the loss of trust can help create a plan of action for rebuilding relationships. In addition, it’s essential to communicate openly and honestly with colleagues, listen to their feedback, and consistently follow through on commitments. Remember, rebuilding trust takes patience and effort from all parties involved, but committing to change is essential to repairing damaged relationships and regaining trust.

Address the root cause

Identifying the root cause of trust issues in the workplace is crucial for effective rebuilding. Leaders should take proactive measures to encourage open and honest conversations with employees, either individually or through surveys, to gain valuable insight into the underlying problems. Once the root cause is identified, leaders should take action to address it swiftly and directly by implementing policies that promote transparency and accountability. Moreover, they should consistently demonstrate trustworthy behavior and actively listen to employee concerns to rebuild trust over time.

Take responsibility for rebuilding trust with your team

Taking responsibility for any actions or mistakes contributing to the breakdown of trust is essential to rebuilding it. When trust is lost, it’s easy to shift blame onto others or make excuses for one’s behavior. However, this only worsens the situation and further erodes trust. By owning up to one’s role in the situation and expressing genuine remorse, damaged relationships can begin to heal. It’s crucial to avoid making excuses and instead focus on what actions can be taken to make things right and prevent similar issues from arising. Following any promises made and being consistent in behavior moving forward is vital in rebuilding trust. Taking responsibility may be difficult, but it is an essential step towards earning back the trust of colleagues and rebuilding positive workplace relationships.

💡Pro tip: PwC suggests managers to align trust to core capabilities and stakeholder expectations. This way, managers can use trust to help build their brand.

Communicate extensively

Effective communication is a crucial aspect of rebuilding trust in the workplace, 72% employees surveyed by PwC agreed. Open and transparent communication helps to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts, making it easier to address trust issues head-on. By actively listening to the concerns and feedback of others, you can gain a better understanding of the root causes of mistrust in your workplace. It’s essential to address these issues respectfully, ensuring everyone feels heard. Regular check-ins with your team can also help to maintain open lines of communication, encouraging a culture of trust and transparency. Communicating effectively, you can help to rebuild relationships with co-workers and management, fostering a more collaborative work environment.

Take action and be consistent

Rebuilding trust in the workplace involves taking action and being consistent. It’s not enough to acknowledge the issue or apologize for past mistakes; one must actively work to make things right and prevent similar problems from arising. It requires following through on promises, staying true to commitments, and maintaining a consistent behavior and communication style. Doing so can demonstrate your commitment to rebuilding trust with your team and set a positive example for others to follow. Remember, restoring confidence takes time and effort, but you can regain credibility and move toward a more productive future by taking action and remaining consistent. Trust is the foundation of any successful workplace relationship. When trust is broken, it can have severe consequences like decreased productivity, morale, and engagement. However, rebuilding trust is possible with a few key steps. You must acknowledge the issue, commit to change, address the root cause, take responsibility, communicate effectively, and take consistent action. It may take time and effort to rebuild trust in the workplace, but it’s worth it for the success of your team and business. 

Interact with your team in effective one-on-one settings to build trust with them.

Build your one-on-one meeting skills with the help of Risely’s assessments.


How do you rebuild trust between employees?

A few vital steps to rebuild trust between employees are:
– Enabling the exchange of thoughts
– Discussing the issues and concerns which led to a breach of trust
– Building accountability in the team
– Addressing the causes and suggesting improvements to avoid the same situation again

What are the four steps to building trust?

The four critical steps to building trust in the workplace are:
– Creating awareness and starting a conversation around trust
– Building a rapport among team members and showing your support
– Strengthening relationships and accountability among teams
– Making sure that actions that break trust are avoided

How Lack Of Trust In The Workplace Can Destroy The Work Culture

Do you ever doubt the authenticity of your colleagues or leaders’ actions? Are you hesitant to share any idea or opinion with your team due to fear of being judged or undermined? If you find these questions relevant, you are in a place lacking trust. A lack of trust in the workplace is a common issue that leads to insecurity, a toxic and unproductive work environment. A lack of trust is like a virus that could create chaos in the organization. In this blog, we’ll explore the causes of a lack of trust in the workplace and provide actionable strategies for fostering a culture of trust and collaboration within your team. So, whether you’re a manager looking to improve team dynamics or an employee seeking a better work experience, read on to learn about the importance of trust in the workplace. Let’s dive in!

What is a Lack of Trust in the Workplace?

When employees’ confidence level or faith lowers in their manager, colleagues, or the company, this shows a lack of trust in the workplace. Various factors, including poor communication, lack of transparency, micromanagement, inconsistent leadership, and favoritism, can cause this lack of trust. When employees do not trust their leaders or feel trusted, it can lead to decreased engagement and productivity, increased turnover, and a negative impact on team morale and cohesiveness. Therefore, building trust in the workplace is crucial for creating a positive and productive work environment.

Examples of lack of trust in the workplace

  • Micromanagement: A team leader constantly hovers over team members, closely monitoring every task and decision, displaying a lack of trust in their abilities to work independently.
  • Lack of Delegation: A manager takes on all tasks themselves, avoiding delegation due to doubts about the team’s competence to handle responsibilities.
  • Blame Game: Team members are quick to assign blame to others when things go wrong, rather than addressing issues collaboratively and taking collective responsibility.
  • Hoarding Knowledge: An individual hoards information or expertise instead of sharing it with the team, indicating a lack of trust in others’ capabilities or job security.
  • Unwarranted Secrecy: Keeping certain aspects of projects secret or confidential without valid reasons can breed suspicion and a lack of trust among team members.

What are the Causes of a Lack of Trust in the Workplace

Various causes lead to a lack of trust in the workplace, such as;
  • Effective communication is a critical component of a healthy work environment. And due to poor communication, your team may feel disconnected, unheard, or unsure about the work, creating a confusing and chaotic environment leading to a lack of trust in leadership.
  • Due to a lack of transparency, employees are left in the dark about decisions directly or indirectly affecting them could cause a sense of uneasiness and uncertainty, leading to a lack of trust.
  • When as a manager, you opt for a micromanagement style, closely tracking and controlling your work team, this indicates that you don’t trust them, creating frustration and resentment in the team. 
  • The team wants their manager to be trustworthy, fair, and consistent. But if the manager is inconsistent, the team won’t trust him, creating a sense of unease and uncertainty.
  • Being biased toward certain team members as a manager you promotes an unhealthy environment of unfairness and inequality. Your team will be dissatisfied with this behavior, leading to resentment and a lack of trust in leadership.
To build a strong and positive workplace culture, managers must address the causes of the lack of trust in the workplace. By promoting open communication, transparency, and consistency, managers can help create a workplace where trust is a top priority, and the team feels valued and supported.

Effects of a Lack of Trust in the Workplace

When the employees’ confidence drops in the company, manager, or colleagues, then as a manager, you need to face several consequences due to a lack of trust established in the workplace, such as;

Decreased employee engagement and productivity

Your team doesn’t trust you or other leaders, feels disconnected from the workplace, and would be less engaged and productive. This directly impacts the company with a lack of motivation, low-quality work, and frequently missed deadlines.

Increased employee turnover

Employees who don’t feel valued or supported in the workplace may choose to leave and seek employment elsewhere. High turnover rates will be costly for companies in terms of time and money.

Adverse impact on team morale and cohesiveness

A lack of trust in the workplace creates a hostile environment that can impact team morale and cohesiveness. Your team may feel isolated or unsupported, leading to poor collaboration and communication.

Negative impact on the company’s bottom line

Decreased productivity, increased turnover, and lower-quality work can all lead to financial losses for the company. Ultimately harming the company’s bottom line.  A lack of trust in the workplace can have significant and far-reaching effects. Therefore, leaders must prioritize building trust with their employees to create a positive, productive work environment. By fostering open communication, transparency, and consistency, leaders can help build a culture of trust and support that benefits everyone.

How to overcome lack of trust in the workplace?

Now that we have explored the causes and effects of a lack of trust in the workplace let’s discuss some strategies for building trust:

Lead by example

As a leader, you must model the behavior you want to see in your employees. If you want your team to trust you, you must be trustworthy. This means honesty, transparency, and consistency in your actions and decisions. Check out the essential guide to leading by example: How To Lead By Example As A Manager? 5 Essential Steps

Encourage open communication and transparency.

Communication is critical to building trust. Encourage your team to openly share their thoughts and ideas and be transparent about your decisions and reasons. This can help create a culture of trust and collaboration.

Provide opportunities for autonomy.

Employees who feel trusted to make decisions are more likely to feel valued and engaged in their work. Therefore, provide opportunities for employees to take on new challenges and make their own decisions while providing support and guidance when needed.

Make consistent and fair decisions.

Consistency and fairness are essential to building trust. Make sure your decisions are consistent and based on clear criteria. This can help employees feel that they are being treated fairly and can rely on your judgment.

Be accountable and follow through on commitments.

When you commit to your employees, follow through. This can help build trust and show that you are reliable and accountable. Besides the abovementioned strategies, consider promoting teamwork and collaboration, such as team-building exercises or cross-functional projects. Encouraging a healthy work-life balance and promoting employee well-being can also help build trust and foster a positive work environment. Building trust in the workplace takes time and effort, but it’s essential for creating a positive and productive work environment.  Learn more about building trust in the workplace here: 10 powerful ways of building trust in the workplace that managers love

Conclusion 

Lack of trust in the workplace has a negative impact on employee engagement, turnover, team morale, and the company’s bottom line. It occurs due to poor communication, lack of transparency, micromanagement, inconsistent leadership, and favoritism. Therefore, leaders must create a trustworthy environment by encouraging open communication, providing autonomy opportunities, making consistent and fair decisions, and being accountable. Sign up to Risely to learn how leaders can establish trust in their team, ultimately leading to a positive and productive work environment.

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Lack of Trust in the Workplace FAQs

What happens when there is trust in the workplace?

Trust in the workplace leads to increased collaboration, productivity, job satisfaction, and loyalty and decreased stress and turnover rates among employees.

What happens when there is no trust in the workplace?

When there is no trust in the workplace, it can lead to negative consequences such as decreased collaboration, increased conflict, reduced productivity, low morale, and higher employee turnover rates.

What causes lack of trust in the workplace?

Lack of trust in the workplace can be caused by poor communication, dishonesty, lack of transparency, micromanagement, broken promises, unfair treatment, and unresolved conflicts.

What is a toxic manager and how to never become one?

What is a toxic manager, and how to never become one?

As a manager, it’s essential to be aware of the signs if you’re becoming toxic. Suppose you can identify the signs early on and take the necessary steps to stop your toxic behavior before it continues. In that case, you’ll be in a much better position to lead a healthy, productive team. In this post, we’ll understand who is called a Toxic Manager and what impact their toxicity has on their team. We’ll be further adding ten valuable tips on how managers can protect themselves from becoming toxic in their roles. So, let’s start!

How will you define a Toxic Manager?

Until now, the definition of a toxic manager has been left up to individual interpretation. But now, there’s a definition that’s been made based on the research conducted. A toxic manager drives talented people away, ruins the workplace culture, and has no respect for the team. This type of manager is toxic not only to the individual employee but also to the whole team. As a result, the workplace becomes a toxic environment. Such managers are often intolerant of others, and their actions negatively impact productivity. Toxic managers can quickly turn a team into an atmosphere of intimidation and fear. They can be both verbally and emotionally abusive and often resort to spiteful and underhanded tactics to get their way. A Toxic Manager is often untrustworthy and unreliable, putting the entire team at risk. This toxicity is not specific to any specific type of management. It can flow or foster in any department, from HR, sales, IT, or even project management. Each department of any business is at the risk of having a bad boss or a bad manager whose toxic leadership and toxic behavior create a toxic workplace and may even severely affect the company culture. They lack empathy, compassion, emotional intelligence, or even the basic sanity necessary for managing a team effectively. They can have a significantly -lousy impact on their team; we will discuss this impact in detail in our next section.

A Toxic Manager’s impact on the team

As mentioned earlier, a toxic manager’s impact on the team can be devastating.
  • Their actions can cause individuals to feel disrespected, unappreciated and paranoid.
  • They can also lead to a loss of trust and morale, which will impact productivity.
  • In addition, teams under the direction of a toxic boss or manager often experience conflict and disharmony.
  • The Toxic Manager is usually very quick to take offense even when there is no real offense being committed, which can lead to Drama Triangle situations.
  • Teams under the control of a toxic manager are also highly likely to experience burnout.
In short, a toxic manager can take in a good team and destroy it. Their toxicity ends up causing the best employees to leave and the reaming to lose all motivation.

How To Protect Yourself From Becoming A Toxic Manager

1. Keep a constant check on your behavior

Sadly, toxic behavior is becoming an increasingly common problem in the workplace. It manifests in various ways, from oral toxicity to emotional toxicity. Toxic behavior is never acceptable, and it needs to be stopped at all costs! If you want to protect yourself from becoming a toxic manager yourself, keep checking your behavior. Be aware of your words and actions, and be mindful of how they impact the people around you. If you see any signs of causing harm or distress, take steps to address them immediately. If physical meetings bring out your toxic behavior, try keeping most of the conversations through email.

2. Don’t micromanage

Micromanagement is extreme and often counterproductive management that involves doing everything possible to control every aspect of employees’ work. Micromanaging employees can be a recipe for disaster, leading to stress, unhappiness, and even burnout. Therefore, the first step to avoid becoming toxic is to keep micromanagement entirely out of your leadership style. Try to become a good coach and provide clear and straightforward instructions, and give your team the freedom to discover and innovate on their own. It will help them achieve their goals more effectively while also reducing the need for you to be involved in every aspect of their work.

3. Do not bully or backbite your employees

Toxic managers are not only unprofessional but also bully and backbite their employees. These behaviors destroy morale and lead to resentment, which can ultimately lead to a termination or make retention too hard. If you want to avoid becoming a toxic manager, be careful not to bully or backbite your employees. Instead, focus on building a positive rapport with them and encourage them to voice their concerns and problems. Keep your interactions with your team constructive, professional, and positive. If you need to criticize someone, make sure that it is constructive and comes out positively.

4. Avoid putting down or demeaning others

The toxic manager often takes pleasure in criticizing and putting people down. It doesn’t make them look good; it makes them look like jerks. Toxic behavior can quickly spread like wildfire in a work environment and have serious consequences. If you’re trying to stay safe and manage your career growth, it’s essential to avoid putting down or demeaning others. Doing so will only cause resentment, anger, and frustration, which will only lead to problems. Instead, try to take the high road in any situation and remain objective. It will help you build trust and respect with your team and ultimately help you achieve your goals.

5. Don’t misuse someone’s weaknesses

As a manager, it is your responsibility to protect your team members or co-workers from being exploited. We often see managers misuse others’ weaknesses to achieve their own goals. For example: If an employee has the weakness of not being able to say no to things, a toxic manager will keep on giving them extra work or responsibilities, knowing that they’ll accept it. If you want to avoid becoming a toxic manager, do not ever misuse someone’s weaknesses to take advantage of them or make them feel powerless. Instead, use your knowledge and skills to help them achieve their goals. It will make them feel appreciated and motivated and help you build a strong team for the long term.

6. Avoid getting caught up in the drama

One of the best ways to protect yourself from becoming a toxic manager is to avoid getting caught up in the drama. It can be easy to get wrapped up in office politics, but it’s important to stay above the fray. Try to focus on your work and your goals, and don’t get drawn into arguments or backstabbing. If you see that someone is getting caught up in the drama, try to help them out. Offer them advice, or recommend that they talk to a therapist or counselor. Drama can be addictive, but it’s important to remember that it’s time-wasting and above all “Toxic”.

7. Avoid getting personal with someone

Toxic managers are often characterized by their need for control and tendency to be overbearing. They also tend to be personal, nit-picking, and reactionary. Ultimately, these behaviors lead to a tense and dysfunctional work environment, which can eventually impact the private lives of their subordinates. If you want to avoid becoming a toxic manager, staying away from getting personal with your team members is essential. Instead, focus on building relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

8. Avoid biases and favoritism

When it comes to managing people, the danger isn’t just in making wrong decisions – it’s in adopting a bias or favoring one person over another. It can have serious consequences, leading to resentment, infighting, and ultimately, staff turnover. To avoid becoming a toxic manager, be vigilant about preventing bias or favoritism in your interactions with your team. It will help ensure that everyone feels appreciated and respected and that all voices are heard.

9. Avoid creating unnecessary issues or mentally harassing someone

As a manager, it is your responsibility to create an environment where your team can thrive and be productive. However, if you are not careful, you can easily create needless issues or mentally harass your team members. You may do it by setting too tight or almost unachievable deadlines, assigning work to your team members out of their roles, or putting too much undue pressure. To avoid becoming toxic, you should first avoid creating unnecessary problems by setting clear and concise expectations, enforcing them fairly and consistently, and being available to answer any questions your team members may have. Additionally, be mindful of the words you use and refrain from speaking to your team in a derogatory or insulting manner as it may negatively affect their mental health. Finally, always remember that working under pressure can be beneficial but only to a certain extent. It would help if you never went beyond this extent to put pressure on your teammates.

10. Don’t pit team members against each other

If you want to keep your team healthy and productive while keeping yourself away from becoming a toxic manager, it’s essential to avoid pitting team members against each other. Pitting team members against each other creates resentment and disharmony and can lead to miscommunication, ineffective decision-making, and even sabotage. Instead of making this toxic environment, aim to build a supportive team environment. Each team member should agree with and back each other’s decisions, bring their unique skills to the team, and enjoy their company. Reward team members for their hard work and make sure that everyone feels like they have a voice and an impact on the overall direction of the company.

Conclusion

To conclude, toxic managers can ruin any workplace, especially those where personal interactions are essential for productivity. They can be very destructive and demoralizing, where employees feel like they can’t do anything right. The worst thing is that they often seem to thrive on conflict and dish it out as if it’s their favorite food. Therefore, you as a manager should protect yourself from becoming a toxic manager at all costs. The tips outlined above will keep you from maintaining the necessary distance from toxicity and move you towards becoming great managers.

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