Trust takes only a moment to destroy but a lifetime to build.
A 2023 Survey by Gallup found trust in the workplace is decreasing. This is a significant decline from 2019, when 24% of employees in America said they trusted their leadership.
Cultivating trust is a definite need in today’s workplace.
The 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer showed in a study of over 100,000 employees that poor communication created more problems with trust than any other factor. All of the research available indicates that real and sincere trust is missing in many workplaces, and interestingly, trust has decreased post-pandemic.
Ironically, in 2020, at the start of the pandemic, employee engagement in the U.S. reached a record high. Senior leaders became more human, more like the rest of us. We saw them at their kitchen tables in sweatshirts, with crying kids and barking dogs in the background.
During this time of great uncertainty, leaders were more honest about what they worried about, and what they didn’t know.
In the early stages of the pandemic, an astonishing 55% of employees strongly agreed that their leaders communicated a clear plan of action in response to COVID-19. By the middle of 2022, only 22% strongly agreed that their leaders communicated a clear plan of action for how they would move forward post-pandemic.
Trust is the foundation of any successful workplace. It fosters collaboration, promotes innovation, and enhances productivity. One crucial aspect of building trust is providing a solid framework that enables employees to see a clear path forward. By crafting a compelling vision, understandable mission, and setting clear and measurable goals, leaders create a sense of direction and purpose.
When leaders articulate a vision that resonates with their teams’ values and aspirations, they create a sense of purpose in the workplace. This was very true for me during my time as a Navy SEAL. I needed a strong sense of purpose beyond myself, and signing up to fight the global war on terrorism gave me that higher purpose. My vision of being an elite warrior fueled my enthusiasm and commitment. The trust that was fostered in BUD/S between my teammates helped me feel a part of something bigger than myself.
Trust provides a sense of direction, collaboration and stability, even during times of change. Trust is often assumed until it is broken, but once broken, it is hard to regain. Great leaders need to be mindful of their actions and work continuously to build and maintain relationships at work. Which relationships in life do you need to build a deeper level of trust?
