Written by Dr. Wendy Norfleet, Certified Business Coach
Dr. Wendy Norfleet is an engineer turned CEO, author, certified business coach, and community advocate. Leveraging her extensive business experience, leadership skills, community engagement, and desire to help others, she works with individuals and organizations to identify challenges, execute solutions, and achieve results.
Organizational transformation can be a challenging and stressful time for employees, as it often involves significant changes to the way they work and the company as a whole. During this time, it's essential to foster team trust to ensure that everyone is working together towards a common goal. Trust is the foundation of any successful team, and it's crucial to maintain it during times of change. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, “People can’t do their best work if they doubt others’ intentions or capabilities, the direction or viability of the organization, or, most importantly, if they doubt their own ability to keep up with the demands placed on them.”
6 tips for fostering team trust during organizational transformation
1. Communicate openly and transparently
During times of change, it's crucial to keep employees in the loop about what's happening and why. Be transparent about the changes that are coming and how they will affect the team. Encourage open communication and provide opportunities for employees to ask questions and voice their concerns. This will help to build trust by showing that you value their input and are committed to keeping them informed.
2. Lead by example
As a leader, it's important to lead by example and model the behavior you want to see in your team. Be honest, transparent, and open in your communication with your team. Show that you are willing to listen to their concerns and take action to address them. This will help to build trust by demonstrating that you are committed to working together towards a common goal.
3. Build relationships and trust
During times of change, it's important to build relationships with your team members. Take the time to get to know them on a personal level and show that you care about their well-being. This will help to build trust by showing that you value them as individuals and are committed to supporting them through the changes.
4. Set clear expectations
During times of change, it's important to set clear expectations for your team. Be clear about what's expected of them and how their role may be changing. This will help to build trust by providing clarity and reducing uncertainty.
5. Celebrate successes
During times of change, it's important to celebrate successes, no matter how small they may be. This will help to build trust by showing that you value your team's hard work and contributions. Celebrating successes will also help to boost morale and keep everyone motivated during the transformation.
6. Provide support
During times of change, it's important to provide support to your team. This may mean providing additional training or resources to help them adapt to the changes. It may also mean providing emotional support to help them navigate the stress and uncertainty of the transformation. This will help to build trust by showing that you are committed to supporting your team through the changes.
In conclusion, fostering team trust during organizational transformation is essential to ensuring that everyone is working together towards a common goal. By communicating openly and transparently, leading by example, building relationships, setting clear expectations, celebrating successes, and providing support, you can build trust with your team and help them navigate the changes ahead. Remember that trust takes time to build, but it's worth the effort in the long run.
Read more from Wendy Norfleet
Dr. Wendy Norfleet, Certified Business Coach
Dr. Wendy Norfleet is an engineer turned CEO, author, certified business coach, and community advocate. Leveraging her extensive business experience, leadership skills, community engagement, and desire to help others, she works with individuals and organizations to identify challenges, execute solutions, and achieve results. In recognition of her service, Wendy has been honored with numerous leadership awards, recognized as a Women of Influence by the Jacksonville Business Journal, selected as a 2021 Small Business Leader of the Year, and helped her company achieve the 2021 Corporate Vision Award for Best Business Consulting and Coaching Company – North Florida. She was most recently recognized as a 2023 Top Entrepreneur.
