Trust is an essential element in any collaborative or mutually beneficial relationship. When you trust your peers and they trust you, it becomes easier to share information and work together. You can openly discuss successes and failures, learn from one another, and rely on one another for support. Trust exhibits several traits. These include
- sincerity – If your peers notice you're honest, say what you mean, and mean what you say, and generally back up your opinions with solid evidence, they're more likely to trust your sincerity. If you behave in these ways, it's easier for others to trust your intentions.
- predictability – People are more likely to trust you if they can predict your actions. This is an aspect of being reliable. If you act consistently and meet your commitments regularly, peers are more likely to think of you as dependable and trustworthy. People feel safer when situations and people are more predictable.
- competence – Peers view you as competent if they believe you have the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to complete a task or provide the support you've promised. When you're viewed as competent, people are more likely to come to you for help or ask you for your opinion, giving you more opportunities to build positive peer relationships.
- value exchange – Peers need to feel confident that when they give you something of value, they'll receive something of similar value in return. This exchange need not be immediate, but they trust that you'll deliver when they need your help. So to build this aspect of trust, be sure to always do your best – as would your peers – and reciprocate any favors.
- openness – When you're open about some of your vulnerabilities, but expect others not to take advantage of them, you trust they care about your interests – not just their own. Displaying genuine concern for the needs of others shows both openness and care. This quality tends to generate the deepest and longest lasting levels of trust.
If you wish to build trust among your peers at work
- be flexible – Flexibility is an extension of being cooperative. Working cooperatively entails being proactive about offering help. Being flexible also requires you to be willing to accept the challenges of changing conditions under which you work, considering different viewpoints, and being open to new ways of doing things.
- be dependable – Doing what you say you'll do is the cornerstone of being dependable. You earn a reputation for being dependable by helping out when needed, following through on your promises, and not offering to take on tasks you can't manage. Follow through and perform consistently and you'll earn the trust of your work peers.
- be competent – If you've developed appropriate skills and knowledge, and are willing to share what you know and to help others, your peers feel more confident about your ability to support them at work. This increases their receptiveness to building relationships with you.
Supporting others
To build strong peer relationships you can use several strategies. You should
- support others – When you willingly extend support to your peers at work, they'll be more receptive to a mutually collaborative relationship. You're better able to extend support if you take an interest in your peers and notice what they need. This doesn't mean you neglect your own work, but you can support them by actively communicating, returning phone calls, and being on time and well prepared for meetings.
- share the credit – Acknowledging the achievements of others demonstrates you support their efforts. This in turn encourages them to adopt a similar approach and willingness to help you. Sharing the success of your team's efforts builds unity in the team and strengthens bonds between team members. When you know you'll get some credit, it's easier to pull together and work well. At the same time, it's important to accept your share of the blame when things don't go well or you've made a mistake.
- demonstrate selflessness – Generosity and working toward collective rather than personal goals shows selflessness. This willingness to put others' needs first helps build a trusting relationship, strengthening the belief that you genuinely care for others.
The relationships you have with your peers at work can have a significant impact on your career and job satisfaction. So it's important to create mutually beneficial relationships and to extend these to build a support network.
To build peers' trust in you, you need to be flexible and adaptable, proactively offering help and trying out new solutions. You also need to demonstrate that others can depend on you by consistently following through with what you promise. Being competent at your job also draws others to you and encourages them to rely on you.
Your attitude toward your peers should show that you support them. Help out when you can, share the credit when you succeed, and accept blame for failures.