High performing teams all require one key factor: trust. Leaders who are able to foster trust within their teams end up with team members who feel psychologically safe within their role and organizations – who in turn are more productive, innovative, and overall invested in the success of their team and organization. Research shows that teams with high trust levels report 74% less stress and 50% higher productivity (Zak, 2017).
Here’s 3 things you can do to build trust within your teams:
1. Lead with Vulnerability
Trust starts at the top. A study in Harvard Business Review found that leaders who openly admit mistakes and ask for feedback create psychological safety, enabling teams to innovate without fear (Brown, 2018).
Action Step: Try starting your next team meeting with, “Here’s where I need your help this week.”
2. Prioritize Active Listening
Trust grows when people feel seen, heard, and acknowledged (my groups know that I say this almost every session). Research by Itzchakov and Kluger (2018) shows that leaders who use active listening skills (e.g., paraphrasing concerns, asking open-ended questions) boost team strength and problem-solving.
Action Step: Next time a technician raises an issue, respond with, “Tell me more about that challenge.”
3. Deliver on Promises
Walking the talk, matters. A 2020 study in Journal of Applied Psychology found that leaders who follow through on their commitments, even small ones (e.g., sending an email), increases team trust by 32% (Dirks & Ferrin, 2002).
Action Step: Schedule a 1:1 with a team member this week to ask, “What’s one thing I can do to better support you?”
Sources:
- Zak, P. J. (2017). Harvard Business Review, “The Neuroscience of Trust.”
- Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead.
- Itzchakov, G., & Kluger, A. N. (2018). Journal of Applied Psychology, “The Power of Listening.