Trust is one of the most important things in a business. Without trust, you will be unable to build relationships with employees and customers alike, which in turn can lead to a negative working environment and low job security.
But how can you boost trust, and thus the sense of community, within your organisation? Let’s take a look.
- Host activities and hangouts after work
It goes without saying that work can be stressful – which is why it is important to pick up hobbies and passions to pursue outside of work. However, you don’t have to do it alone.
Not only will inviting colleagues to hang out and undertake activities outside of work reduce stress, but it will also help to build a sense of community within the workplace.
- Recognise and reward employees
Making employees feel valued is one of the best ways to build trust. In doing so, employees will feel more appreciated for their contributions, and thus will feel more emotionally connected to the business.
Starting up an employee rewards scheme, packed with meaningful benefits like cash rewards, vouchers, discounts, wellness wins, and more, can go a long way towards building a positive working environment.
You might also consider rewarding particularly successful results with cash bonuses, staff parties, or even simply giving verbal recognition of the hard work of the team in question.
- Foster an inclusive culture
In order to boost the sense of community in the workplace, one must ensure that no one is left out or feels marginalised. This is why it is essential to foster an inclusive culture, and celebrate diversity.
Consider setting up groups like LGBTQ+ networks where like minded individuals can get together and discuss issues they face. You can then use their experiences to improve inclusivity going forward.
Another way is to provide disability awareness training to all employees, regardless of their background.
- Lead by example
If the sense of community and trust is not felt from employees’ superiors, this can make people feel undervalued and unappreciated. In fact, around 54% of people who quit their jobs do so due to bad management.
Thus, it is clear that boosting the sense of belonging in an organisation will not be effective if this is not also adhered to by those in charge too.
- Take time to listen
Every member of your workforce is different – we are all human, after all. Take time out of your day to really listen to your employees, and get to know them on a personal level. This will show you care, and thus boost trust within the workplace.
- Ask for feedback (and do something with it)
Similarly to the above, as we are all individuals, we will all naturally have our own unique opinions. Ask for feedback on how your employees feel, what they think can be improved upon, and how they think community and trust can be boosted.
Once you have listened to the feedback – both the positive and the negative – make sure you actually act on it, showing you value their thoughts and opinions.
With these tips in mind, you will be able to begin improving community and trust within your organisation. That said, it won’t happen overnight – so persevere and be patient for long term results.
