Enhancing employee engagement and retention through developing trust

In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, employee engagement and retention have become critical challenges for organisations. One of the most effective strategies to address these challenges is by developing trust within the workplace. Trust is the foundation of a productive and harmonious work environment.

The importance of trust
Trust is more than just a feel-good concept; it is a vital component of a successful organisation. According to Deloitte’s research¹, 80% of employees who trust their employers feel motivated to work, compared to less than 30% who don’t. However, only about half of employees report that they trust their employers. This gap presents a significant opportunity for improvement.

Trust in the workplace is linked to several positive outcomes, including:

• Increased productivity
• Higher employee engagement
• Lower turnover rates
• Enhanced collaboration and creativity

As work becomes more collaborative and less transactional, the role of trust becomes even more critical. Psychological safety, closely related to trust, is essential for fostering creativity and effective teamwork.

Common pitfalls in building trust
One of the main reasons trust is eroded in organisations is the disparity between how leaders trust individual employees versus employees as a group. Leaders often design policies and processes with a compliance, monitoring and task focus, which can signal distrust. This leads to employees feeling disempowered and micromanaged, ultimately reducing real productivity.

For example, excessive workplace monitoring can lead to compensating behaviors where employees appear productive but are not actually contributing meaningfully, often referred to as ‘presenteeism’. This phenomenon was highlighted by Jodi Kantor² and colleagues in their article on worker productivity scores, where employees gamed monitoring systems to meet perceived productivity metrics rather than actual performance goals.

The A-Trust model: building trust in the workplace
The A-Trust model developed by Enmasse provides a comprehensive approach to building trust in the workplace. It involves both individual and organisational efforts to create a culture of trust. Here are the key components:

• Inclusion in policy creation: engage employees in the creation of policies and processes. This inclusion fosters a sense of ownership and trust in the organisation’s leadership.
• Transparent communication: open communication about decisions, especially those affecting employees, helps build trust. Transparency around pay, performance metrics, and organisational changes can reduce suspicion and build a culture of trust.
• Leadership development: train leaders to demonstrate empathy, reliability, and integrity. Encourage them to communicate openly and fulfill commitments to build personal trust with their teams.
• Promote psychological safety: create an environment where employees feel safe to express ideas and concerns without fear of retribution. This can be achieved through regular feedback sessions, anonymous surveys, and fostering open dialogue.
• Foster collaboration: encourage teamwork and collaboration across all levels of the organisation. Recognise and reward team achievements and ensure that team dynamics are positive and inclusive.
• Fair monitoring practices: use monitoring tools judiciously and ensure they are perceived as supportive rather than punitive. Clearly communicate the purpose of monitoring and involve employees in discussions about how data will be used.

Enhancing employee engagement and retention through developing trust is not just beneficial; it is essential for the sustainability of organisations . Trust acts as the glue that holds the workforce together, supports a culture of respect, promotes productivity, satisfaction, and loyalty. By co-creating policies, promoting transparency, developing trustworthy leaders, encouraging psychological safety, fostering a collaborative culture, and implementing fair monitoring practices, organisations can build a strong foundation of trust. At Enmasse, we are committed to helping teams foster trust from within, ensuring a thriving and engaged workforce.

For more insights and strategies on building trust in your organisation, contact us today.

References:
1 Trust deficit in the workplace | Deloitte Insights - https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/insights/topics/leadership/workplace-monitoring-and-the-lack-of-trust-in-the-workplace.html
2 Workplace Productivity: Are You Being Tracked? - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/14/business/worker-productivity-tracking.html