[Supervisor Success: Mastering People Skills & Cultivating High-Performing Teams is a monthly series from UCOR’s Human Resources Manager Mary Alice Douglass designed to support front line supervisors.]
Trust is the foundation of everything good in a team, from working together easily to openly sharing ideas and hitting big goals. You build trust through your actions, by being transparent, and by truly caring about your team’s well-being and growth. Without trust, communication breaks down, morale suffers, and teamwork crumbles.
You earn trust by always acting with integrity, following through on what you say you’ll do, and being fair and consistent in your decisions. It also helps to admit when you make a mistake, show vulnerability, and empathize with your team. Giving feedback with good intentions and standing up for your team within the organization further shows you’re someone they can rely on.
Try this: Make sure you always follow through on promises you make to your team, big or small. If something changes, explain why clearly.
Also, try this: Before making a big decision that affects your team, ask for their input when appropriate, and then explain your reasoning for the final decision.
Avoid this: Don’t get caught up in office gossip or badmouthing team members behind their backs. And definitely avoid playing favorites or treating people inconsistently.
