I’ve got a quick question.

 Do you genuinely trust everyone who works for you? More importantly, do they trust you?

 By that, I mean, do you have mutual respect? Do you treat everyone with dignity? Do you acknowledge their contribution and value their perspectives? Are you all honest, transparent, and openly sharing information? Is everyone reliable and consistent? Does each team member act predictably? Are you confident in their ability to get the job done, represent the business, and treat clients as you would? Does everyone feel psychologically safe to take interpersonal risks and raise concerns without fear?

 Hopefully, your answer is immediate and without hesitation. YES!

 Trust is the one fundamental obligation everyone in your business shares. Yet, in my experience, it rarely translates in the real world.

In nearly all workplaces, leaders withhold information, make secretive decisions, or don’t commit to their promises. Constant oversight and a lack of autonomy can make employees feel like their skills and judgment aren’t valued, eroding trust. It is also challenging to avoid favouritism. Certain people get promoted or rewarded, which others perceive as unfair. Such action breeds resentment and distrust. Some workplaces knowingly or unwittingly encourage unhealthy competition by pitting team members against each other, creating an atmosphere of mistrust.

I’m not suggesting any of this happens in your business.

What if you spent the next week outwardly demonstrating trust?

Focus on your communication. Make sure you present a transparent style of communication. Actively ask for feedback and new ideas. Ensure you have a positive workplace culture by creating a sustainable and supportive work environment for your team to thrive. Ask your team what kind of training would be of value to them. Then, make it happen in a reasonable time.

At the very least, ask everyone in your business what’s one thing we could do differently in the next week.

Trust is earned, not given.

Invest some time and energy this week to ensure you’re encouraging people to trust the boss. It’s a two-way street that demands attention and will pay big dividends to those who care enough to do so.