3 Ways to Reverse Trust Erosion

Workplace trust weakens through everyday habits such as prioritizing results over relationships, replacing dialogue with assumption, and advancing change without shared ownership. Trust strengthens when we replace those habits with intentional, people-centered practices. Don't just prevent trust from eroding—build it.

1. Align results with employees' interests.

Pursue ambitious goals while staying visibly committed to people's development and support, so no one feels alone or sidelined in the drive for results.

2. Speak directly and share early.

Be straightforward in addressing workers' concerns and relay information early, so people don't fill uncertainty with rumor, conjecture, or worst-case assumptions.

3. Co-create the future.

Engage people in shaping decisions that affect their work, enabling them to move into the unknown together with clarity, confidence, and shared ownership.