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By Jo Eyre, Managing Director and Founder of Voxeon Communication 

Workplace communication statistics for 2024 show that 86% of employees and executives cite the lack of effective collaboration and communication as the main causes of workplace failures. On the other hand, teams who communicate effectively may increase their productivity by as much as 25% – pumble

Jo Eyre, Managing Director and Founder of Voxeon Communication believes trust is a cornerstone for success in all aspects of work – from interpersonal communication, to reporting and collaboration: 

Trust builds the foundation upon which we build our teams and should be prioritised from the onset. The lifecycle of trust extends beyond the onboarding process; it begins even before an individual joins the company. Furthermore, ensuring that new hires align with the company culture, exhibit integrity, and share relevant attitudes and values is a crucial step in establishing trust from the outset. However, trust is reciprocal – employers must also demonstrate their trustworthiness. How? Through timely responses, comprehensive onboarding and offboarding, keeping promises, and maintaining transparency.‍

Trust as a culture-building catalyst

Connection, cohesion, collaboration and creativity are all based on trust. These elements may act as a binding factor that brings team members together. Trust also forms the basis for open and transparent communication, allowing team members to express ideas, share concerns, and collaborate effectively. Therefore, when expectations are expressed with clarity, trust is built and people feel like they can excel at optimum level. 

Encourage coaching 

Leaders play a pivotal role in the workplace. According to Harvard Business Review, genuine leadership has the ability to cultivate trust and improve employee engagement and performance. In instances when employees are coached and their expectations are met, they are more likely to listen to your advice.

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Whether you’re building trust in interpersonal relationships or amongst a team at work, human psychology remains the same. These are the three essential building blocks of trust:

Consistency and reliability

When individuals are exposed to the same behaviour consistently, it creates a platform for patterns therefore an expectation for reliable behaviour.

Shared experiences

Common experiences and shared goals contribute to trust by bringing people together who experience the same conditions or challenges, which connects people. This connection creates unity, helping people to feel like they can relate to one another.

Assuming positive intent

Positive intent, assuming people mean well and are doing their best, establishes a foundation of positivity and understanding. This mindset establishes the notion of “innocent until proven guilty.” 

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