Only 2 in 3 workers trust the decisions their organization’s senior leadership make (Ipsos Karian and Box, online survey May 2022).
So how can leaders build trust in the workplace?
As an expert of Internal Communication Strategy, one of the ways that you can gain your place as a trusted advisor in the company is by rolling out leadership training that can positively impact frontline workers and build trust in the workplace.
For starters, it’s important that you stay close to the organizational temperature, focus on outcomes and use data to drive decisions when managing leadership training.
We’ve put together 4 leadership training tips to help you build trust among your employees, especially with frontline workers who are generally remote and more difficult to reach.
#1Be more visible
Leadership training tip #1: Encourage the leaders in your company to be more visible.
When frontline workers see that your leaders are approachable and willing to listen to concerns, it helps build trust in the workplace. It also portrays leaders in the company as invested and caring about success. And leaders who make themselves visible are more likely to help resolve issues and identify potential problems.
By increasing visibility, frontline workers will feel more comfortable coming to you with questions or ideas, and you're more likely to hear them out. That's when you begin to build trust in the workplace, leading to a more positive and productive work environment.
#2Encourage openness and honesty
Leadership training tip #2: The more open and honest the leaders are in your company, the faster you’re able to build trust in the workplace.
When the leaders in your workplace are transparent about the company’s vision, its health and growth path, they build credibility and foster trust. This openness and honesty can quite easily lead to a more positive-oriented workplace. Feedback then becomes more honest as well, making it easier to build trust in the workplace, especially among colleagues.
The cherry on top? Frontline workers who are generally more dispersed and disconnected from the head office, will more likely engage and feel motivated with leaders they can trust. So if you want to create a positive and productive workplace, make sure you encourage openness and honesty during leadership training and incorporate this into your internal communication strategy.
#3Empower behavior
Leadership training tip #3: Encourage leaders to empower your employees, especially your frontline workers who tend to fall into silos.
There's no doubt that empowering behavior is a key ingredient of successful leadership. When you empower your employees, you build trust in the workplace and give them the opportunity to grow and develop their skills. This, in turn, leads to a more engaged and productive workforce.
So how can your leaders empower your employees? One way is to encourage employees to have autonomy when it comes to decision-making. This doesn't mean giving them free rein to do whatever they want. Instead, it means giving employees the space to make decisions within their area of expertise.
Another way leaders can empower your employees is to give regular feedback. This feedback should be both positive and constructive, and should be given in a way that is respectful and helpful. Empowering behavior is a win-win for both leaders and employees. And a definite win for building trust in the workplace.
#4Allow frontline workers to challenge your decisions
Leadership training tip #4: Build trust in the workplace by welcoming constructive feedback
You want your company leaders to be confident in their decisions. But that doesn't mean frontline workers shouldn’t be able to challenge decisions they make. In fact, welcoming employees to challenge their leaders with constructive feedback is essential to building trust in the workplace.
If your company leaders can find a few key employees who they trust to give them honest feedback, they’ll be better off for it. Allowing employees to challenge their managers shows confidence in one’s own abilities and the openness to listen to others. It's a sign of strength, not weakness. So encourage management during leadership training to let their teams speak up. It could be the best decision for the company and is definitely key to an effective internal communication strategy.