
It’s inevitable that eventually, you and your coworkers will say and do things that could be interpreted in more than one way. When it comes to communication, nothing is black and white. Then, you’re more likely to see all their words and actions as coming from a well-intentioned place-even if they’re somewhat ambiguous.

You trust that they want the best for you and for the team. If you think someone is trustworthy, you believe they mean well. According to management expert Dana Brown Lee, trust creates a “ shield of goodwill” that minimizes miscommunication. That’s because how much you trust someone influences how you read their behavior. If you start building trust with your teammates as early as possible, it will set a strong foundation for the long haul. Keep the particulars of your industry and culture in mind when you’re evaluating trust at your new job. And on the flip side, the ping-pong tables and casual dress at your trendy new tech company may not mean people actually trust each other.
COCONUTBATTERY NO TRUST PROFESSIONAL
People acting less relaxed and more professional doesn’t mean you’ve entered a low-trust den of backstabbing thieves, especially if you’re in a formal environment like a bank. That’s not to say they’ll never disagree in fact, trusting teammates feel safe voicing disagreement respectfully, and conflicts never get personal. What is the overall culture of your new workplace? Do people seem relaxed, laughing and acting casual around each other? If you’re new to a remote team, does everyone use video during their calls, and what does their virtual communication throughout the day look like? Are your new coworkers asking for help if they need it, and following up on new assignments with questions and requests for clarification?Īccording to Harvard Business Review, trusting teams show appreciation and recognize each other’s strengths, because they see their coworkers as allies rather than threats. Obviously, don’t watch your new teammates like a hawk, but paying attention to how everyone works together will help you evaluate how trusting your workplace is already, and how you can expect to fit in. You’re going to be looking around for the quickest exit to get away from that bear! Evaluate Existing Team Trustīecause trust is so centered on communication, it’s not hard to tell how much people trust each other from their body language, or even the way they interact through messaging apps like Slack. Think about it: if you don’t feel safe, you’re not going to be productive. And that naturally translates to better work-high levels of trust are correlated with lower workplace stress, more innovation, fast decision making, and better workplace satisfaction. Trusting workplaces feel positive, safe, and comfortable. It takes trust to get into a place where you freely ask your teammates for help, bounce ideas off each other, and generally bring out the best in each other without fear of judgment. Great, collaborative work happens when people feel focused, creative, and relaxed when the ideas are flowing and everyone is playing off each others’ energy. To do good work, you need to know that if you make a mistake or ask a silly question, it’s okay-that you won’t see repercussions for showing vulnerability. This might sound dramatic: after all, it’s not like you’re about to get mauled by a bear in your new office or while sitting at your remote setup!īut the absence of physical threats doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll feel safe.

Trust is so important for teams because it boils down to psychological safety. In this article, you’ll discover why trust matters and learn easy, evidence-based ways to build it- without doing that thing where you fall backwards and hope your new coworkers catch you. That’s why establishing trust is one of the most important things you can do to ensure success in your new role. And working together is the defining factor of success within teams it’s quite literally how you get things done. Your skills determine how you work, but the bonds you form with your new teammates will determine how well you work together. And of course, that stuff is important-it’s likely why you got the job in the first place!īut what arguably matters even more are your relationships with your new coworkers.

To prepare, you might brush up on your skills or learn everything there is to know about your new company. Because so much time is spent at work, transitioning into a new role can be anxiety-inducing-it’s a big life change, almost like moving cities or beginning a new relationship!
