How do you create a trustworthy and safe team?
Learn from the community’s knowledge. Experts are adding insights into this AI-powered collaborative article, and you could too.
This is a new type of article that we started with the help of AI, and experts are taking it forward by sharing their thoughts directly into each section.
If you’d like to contribute, request an invite by liking or reacting to this article. Learn more
— The LinkedIn Team
Trust is the foundation of any successful team. Without trust, team members may feel insecure, isolated, or reluctant to share their ideas and feedback. A safe team is one where team members feel respected, valued, and supported to take risks and learn from mistakes. Creating a trustworthy and safe team requires intentional and consistent actions from both leaders and team members. Here are some tips to help you build a team culture that fosters trust and safety.
Communicate openly and honestly
One of the key ways to build trust and safety in a team is to communicate openly and honestly. This means sharing information, expectations, and feedback in a timely and transparent manner. It also means listening actively, acknowledging different perspectives, and addressing conflicts constructively. By communicating openly and honestly, you can reduce misunderstandings, promote collaboration, and create a sense of inclusion and belonging in your team.
-
Clear communication is essential for building trust. In order to work cohesively as a team, there needs to be communication and collaboration to establish goals.
5
-
To build a trusted team 1.Lead by Example: Show integrity and openness 2.Clear Communication: Encourage respectful dialogue 3.Define Roles: Set clear goals and accountability. 4.Value Diversity: Embrace varied perspectives. 5.Feedback Culture: Provide constructive feedback. 6.Empower Decision-Making: Allow autonomy. 7.Recognize Success: Reward achievements. 8.Resolve Conflicts: Address issues directly. 8.Support Growth: Offer learning opportunities. 9.Transparency: Communicate openly. 10.Work-Life Balance: Respect well-being. 11.Learn from Mistakes: Foster a learning approach. 12.Collaboration: Encourage teamwork. 13.Continuous Improvement: Adapt and evolve. These actions foster trust and safety, enhancing team cohesion and effectiveness.
3
Show empathy and appreciation
Another way to create a trustworthy and safe team is to show empathy and appreciation for your team members. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Appreciation is the recognition and gratitude for the contributions and achievements of others. By showing empathy and appreciation, you can demonstrate that you care about your team members as individuals, not just as workers. You can also boost their morale, motivation, and loyalty to the team.
-
I completely agree with this. When you try to see life from your team members’ lenses you tend to be compassionate and unbiased. This builds rapport and ultimately, the level of trust increases. In my experience, I have learned that people appreciate and prefer working with colleagues who understand them.
4
-
I agree that it is important to show empathy and appreciation...and it goes beyond just words. Great leaders will spend time with people in the environment where the work gets done...whether that is in the workshop or on remote calls. Leaders need to show up and experience the same situations as their team members in order to truly show empathy and appreciate the work people do. Not all the time of course...it's important not to micro-manage...so getting the balance right is important. This is a good topic to raise in regular coaching conversations!
2
Encourage feedback and learning
A third way to build a trustworthy and safe team is to encourage feedback and learning. Feedback is the constructive and respectful exchange of opinions and suggestions for improvement. Learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, and attitudes. By encouraging feedback and learning, you can create a team culture that values growth, innovation, and excellence. You can also help your team members overcome challenges, celebrate successes, and learn from failures.
-
The biggest learnings in life come from experiences that didn’t go as well as we would have wanted. Made a mistake or missed a deadline? The likelihood is you probably won’t do that again. Building a successful, happy and healthy team founded on respect is about nurturing your team and helping them to learn and grow through their experiences. The importance of feedback is primordial, be it positive or constructive - it helps individuals to understand what they’re doing well (and should keep doing!) and what they can improve upon, in turn giving them room for growth, encouraging their continuous development and helping to foster a more positive, honest and open working environment.
5
-
It's normal to be afraid of making mistakes, and unfortunately it's common to have work environments that punish those who make mistakes. And that's the real problem. A collaborative and safe work environment develops when the corporate culture sees mistakes from a different perspective, as an opportunity to do better and grow. People management focused on employee qualification plays a much more effective role than management that represses errors and punishes those who commit them.
(edited)2
Delegate and empower
A fourth way to create a trustworthy and safe team is to delegate and empower your team members. Delegation is the assignment of tasks and responsibilities to others. Empowerment is the provision of autonomy, authority, and resources to others. By delegating and empowering your team members, you can show that you trust their abilities, judgment, and potential. You can also enable them to take ownership, initiative, and accountability for their work.
-
It's also in terms of accountability. Accountability plays a pivotal role in a team. They set an example and also lead smaller teams and at times are guiding force. It is Essential to form your one downs in a team. An individual or group of individuals who in your absence or proxy can "have your back". While someone who leads the team has only the bird's eye view on this, it's the people who you empower who know the L2 and L3 pulse of the team. It is also in terms of setting a safe environment to argue. Many of the teams fail or tend to move in one direction only because there are no conductive and constructive arguments to better the way working or the nature of work.
2
-
Establishing a reliable and secure team involves delegating and empowering team members. Delegation assigns tasks and responsibilities, while empowerment grants autonomy, authority, and resources. Through delegation and empowerment, you display trust in their capabilities, judgment, and potential. This approach fosters ownership, initiative, and accountability among team members, promoting a sense of security and efficiency.
1
Model the behavior you expect
A fifth way to build a trustworthy and safe team is to model the behavior you expect from your team members. Modeling is the demonstration of the desired attitudes, values, and norms by example. By modeling the behavior you expect, you can set the standards and expectations for your team. You can also influence their behavior positively and inspire them to follow your lead.
Creating a trustworthy and safe team is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. It requires commitment, effort, and patience from both leaders and team members. By following these tips, you can foster a team culture that promotes teamwork and innovation.
-
Instilling trust and safety within a team involves modeling the behavior you desire from your members. Modeling entails exemplifying the desired attitudes, values, and norms through personal actions. This approach establishes the benchmarks and anticipations for your team, positively influencing their conduct and inspiring them to emulate your lead. Building such an environment is a continual journey, necessitating dedication, diligence, and persistence from both leaders and members. By adhering to these principles, you can cultivate a team culture that champions collaboration and innovation.
4
-
Thank you for this space! In my opinion all companies should to have productivity metrics (employess) where is possible measure the performance therefore one point of evaluation should to consider knowledge. In concrete the companies should to consider seriously in it budget the Training. The result will be a culture knowledge this is the secret for achieve the success.
1
Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
-
Remember be nice But be tough. Never show a mad face. Never ever act like you Want to participate in a Excursion, you are opening yourself. For a big lawsuit.
4
-
Get to know your team on a personal level! The impact of understanding those who you are working with is HUGE - you can learn so much about someone over a coffee, a lunch, a drink or dinner, and this can really help you to build more robust and trusting working relationships with them. My strongest and most valuable connections at work have come from taking the time to really get to know people for who they are and understand what their personal hopes, fears and motivations are. If you can do this, the power is yours!
2