Closing the trust gap when reimagining the workplace
To achieve the desired outcomes on the three different levels and tackle the future of work challenges, certain actions can be taken. The first strategy to apply, is a people-centered approach that puts people at the heart of the business. When reimagining the workplace, it is important to empower employees by focusing on the employee experience. Putting well-being on top of the agenda and striving towards a truly inclusive environment should be the goal.
The second strategy to apply, is creating a healthy work culture, which is the basis where trust can flourish. This cultural journey should be a continuous effort and should be directed at including trust-related values in the core company purpose. Depending on how the company can be best characterized, ‘transparency’, ‘openness’, and ‘honesty’ are values that could clearly show both internally and externally what the company stands for. Identifying such core values and linking it to specific behaviors, will create a trustful environment.
Thirdly, perceiving everyone in the company as a leader is another very concrete strategy to build trust. Employees need to feel trusted and empowered to self-manage. In order to give guidance, a purpose is desired. Every employee should be inspired by that purpose and should clearly know what their contribution is to the organization. Purpose will also bring employees closer to a truly inclusive environment, where solutions and a sense of belonging can be found.
The fourth and final strategy is to lead by example. In order to build trust, leading by example is key. It is important that leaders lead in a purposeful and authentic way. They should build relationships by doing the right thing, should be consistent and should dare to speak up about difficulties. Furthermore, leaders need to be approachable, available and at the same time leave space for employees to autonomously make their own decisions. In terms of communication, it implies encouraging colleagues to have a voice, communicating important information transparently, fostering peer-to-peer communication, enabling colleagues to communicate with each other, and ensuring connection between them.
