Communication is the magic key for building trust. Body language, expressions, tone are all important.
<ol>
<li>Speak in a calm, soothing voice.</li>
<li>Make sure that the atmosphere is cheerful and smile whenever possible.</li>
<li>Do not smile with raised eyebrows, as it looks as if there is anxiety.</li>
<li>Do not fidget with your fingers and stand straight.</li>
</ol>

Building Trust With New Team Members: Body Language

Trust makes us feel psychologically safe at the workplace. One can focus on creative, collaborative work where there is a free flow of ideas and everyone is benefiting from each other’s energy. One can freely ask for support, test new ideas, and be oneself without any fear of judgement.
Trustworthy colleagues result in a positive, safe and comfortable work environment that translates into better work. There is less stress, faster decision making and more innovation.

Trust Matters At The Workplace

Trustworthiness is a combination of competence and warmth. Great leaders are loved and respected, but also feared at the same time. 
One has to strike the right balance between love and fear to appear authentic, vulnerable and credible. To start things off, be compassionate and warm.

Trust Equation: Warmth And Strength

<ol>
<li>Trust can be built by showcasing your competence and skills.</li>
<li>Trust yourself, shaking out any imposter syndrome and do not doubt your competence.</li>
<li>Be transparent and honest, not hiding the information that makes you appear bad.</li>
<li>Be a person your teammates can count on, by showing your reliability and keeping your word.</li>
<li>Accept your mistakes and do not attack or blame a coworker.</li>
<li>Treat coworkers equally and do not show bias.</li>
<li>Treat people with fairness, integrity and try not to be the gossipy, two-faced coworker that no one likes.</li>
<li>Have good intentions and be the person you would trust.</li>
</ol>

Maintaining Trust In The Long Run

One can take cues from how coworkers trust each other by their body language, the way they interact on Slack, or how relaxed and casual they are around each other. 
If help is sought after, and clarifications are prompt, even during virtual (Zoom calls) environments, one can gauge the level of trust in the workplace.

Evaluating Existing Team Trust

A new joinee has to showcase the skills he possesses and at the same time, build the foundation of a good relationship with the new coworkers.
Establishing trust is important to ensure success in one’s new job role.

Building Trust While Starting A New Job

A strong foundation of trust needs to be laid as early as possible. Create a ‘shield of goodwill’ to minimize any miscommunication. 
Building trust will ensure that even if there is ambiguity, the words and actions are coming with good intentions.

Building Trust Early

Virtual teams and WFH policies have complicated and muddled the communication that happens in a physical office. We need to provide remote team members with the benefit of the doubt while interpreting their behaviour. There is much less context to access what is meant by their words and actions.
The least we can do is watch our tone, and be as polite and generous in the initial months as possible. It always pays to be warm, friendly and human.

Trust In The Virtual Workspace

<ol>
<li>Talk about one’s upbringing, hardships and personal history, while keeping it work-appropriate. Getting to know people on a personal level builds trust and connections, as they see a human being and not just a new employee.</li>
<li>Ask for help whenever possible. It shows vulnerability and boosts good feelings among team members. They like being perceived as competent while demonstrating that you are okay with admitting that you don’t know something.</li>
<li>Ask for feedback and take your teammates' opinion whenever possible. You can ask a person having expertise, even if there is no direct work involvement.</li>
</ol>

Building Trust With New Team Members: Being Human

How to Collaborate, Build trust and other tips to create a smooth transition in your new endeavour

teamwork

Teamwork

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

career

Career

communication

Communication

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

Joining A New Team

With these tips you can build trust with your new team, establish strong workplace relationships, and show coworkers your strength, competence, and skills.