Building Trust in the Office

I still seethe when I think of this story: At an old job, I emailed my boss in advance to let her know I had a doctor's appointment and would be in late. She emailed an OK back. When I didn't show up that morning, instead of checking her email or giving me the benefit of the doubt, my ex-boss reported me to HR.

I was furious that she didn't trust me to be where I said I'd be. And to say I didn't want to work for her anymore would be an understatement. If I didn't need the job, I would have walked out that day.

This story illustrates how a lack of trust can shatter a relationship. To steal a line from that old commercial for cotton, trust is part of the fabric of our lives. Without it, relationships -- in and out of the office -- become impossible. Coworkers who don't trust each other don't collaborate well, and that affects the bottom line. And if you don't trust your boss, how can you work for that person?

Part of creating an atmosphere of trust is telling the truth. It's a cliche for a reason: Honesty normally is the best policy. For an extreme case of what can happen when lies get out of control in a corporate environment, just look at what happened to Enron.

So how do you establish an atmosphere of trust at work? This article talks about how workers can find an office confidante. At a higher level, I think managers have to create an honest, open, ongoing dialogue with their direct reports. Only when people feel they are being respected, appreciated and trusted can they do their best work.

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