Cultivating Care: Create a Safe and Open Culture Part 2 - Foster Trustworthiness

In any partnership, trust is a vital building block to long-term success, and it is a quality that cannot be purchased but demonstrated through the integrity of the individual. Can you think back to a moment when your trust in a professional relationship may have fractured? When looking back at that moment, what was the environment like then? 

Trust is essential for any organization, especially regarding the relationship between management and staff. Communication must be open and honest to build trust, and employee feedback should be encouraged.

The following steps will help foster trustworthiness within your organization:

1. Establish Clear Policies & Procedures: Establishing clear policies and procedures will help ensure that everyone in the organization understands the expectations. Guidelines should be well-defined, so that team members feel heard, safe, and supported.

2. Encourage Open Communication: Open communication between management and staff is essential in building trust. Managers should prioritize checking in with their team regularly, and employees should feel comfortable asking questions or voicing their opinions without fear of repercussions.

3. Encourage Employee Feedback: Employees should be encouraged to give candid feedback about their experiences in the organization. This feedback should be taken seriously by management and used to make improvements where necessary.

4. Invest in Professional Development: Investing in professional development for managers and staff will help foster a culture of trustworthiness within the organization. Providing job-specific and soft skills training can help employees gain confidence in themselves and their abilities, leading to greater trust between managers and staff.

By following these steps, organizations can create an atmosphere of trustworthiness that will benefit managers and employees. By establishing clear policies and procedures, encouraging open communication, encouraging employee feedback, and investing in professional development, organizations can build a strong foundation of trust that will last for years.

Every Tuesday through April, I'll share insight on how to help develop an inclusive, inspiring work environment. Follow Kutoa Project's blog to stay up-to-date and learn how to cultivate a culture of care.

For those interested in reading along, please visit https://www.kutoaproject.org/blog.