Running a small business comes with many challenges—hiring the right employees, tight budgets and the need to stay competitive.
But when your team is remote, you’re faced with an extra challenge—building trust. Unlike traditional work settings where you can easily set up in-person meetings and get to know each other better, remote teams rely on digital communication.
However, you can’t overlook this, as a lack of trust can make your employees feel less engaged, which can lead to missed deadlines, poor communication and high turn-over rate.
So how do you build trust when your team is remote?
This guide has provided practical proven strategies that will help you build trust with your remote team, create a strong company culture and improve teamwork.
Why Is Trust Essential In Leading A Remote Team
Trust can be defined as the reliance on the ability of someone or something. This includes key elements like consistency, accountability and competence.
Furthermore, trust is the foundation of every thriving business. Being able to create a culture of trust between you and your remote team can lead to more productivity, encourage team collaboration and create a good working environment.
Therefore, the strategies shared below will help you to build trust and transparency with your remote team.
1. Establish clear company expectations from the start
One of the fastest ways to build trust with your remote team is by setting clear expectations. This includes:
Setting defined roles and responsibilities for your team members.
Establishing clear deadlines for progress.
Providing guidelines on communication, work hours and weekly check-ins.
When expectations are detailed and transparent, your employees feel more confident in their roles and their ability to deliver within time limits.
2. Create channels for communication
Effective communication is a must-have for building trust in a remote work environment.
Host weekly check-ins where you discuss the teams’ progress, challenges and way forward.
Create a feedback channel where you encourage your employees to share their thoughts, concerns and innovative ideas.
If you’re always busy, appoint a manager or a team leader to oversee the affairs of your remote team.
Furthermore, consistently making communication a part of your work culture builds trust, transparency and value in your employees.
3. Share your company’s mission and vision
Let your employees know why you started your business and what you expect from them. Share your values, vision and mission during the onboarding meeting.
Make them see the bigger picture. This is one of the most effective ways to build trust and alignment. When your employees understand the reason for their work, they feel a sense of purpose that will push them to give their best to the company.
Additionally, regularly communicate your mission in meetings and company updates to help your employees keep it top of mind.
4. Recognize employee efforts and show appreciation
In a remote work environment, your employees want to know that the extra mile they put into the work is recognized. Acknowledging their hard work can go a long way in not just building trust but motivating them to do more.
Therefore:
Send personalized appreciation messages.
Do a shout-out during team meetings.
Offer work incentives such as bonuses or even time off.
Employees who feel appreciated trust their leaders and always do their best to promote the business.
5. Provide opportunities for growth
Trust is built when your employees see the extent to which you go to make sure they maximize their skills. Therefore, when you provide online courses or encourage work-life balance, you build trust and loyalty within your team. Additionally, provide them with tools and software that will help streamline their work operations.
6. Don’t micromanage your team- Build trust with your team
Micromanagement is a management style where the manager constantly requires updates, dismisses ideas easily and is skeptical to delegate certain responsibilities. Employees who are micromanaged often feel like you don’t trust them, and this can significantly affect their work output.
Therefore, empower your team members to take charge of their work and relay to you any challenges they might face. Provide them with the tools and information they need to optimize their work-flow and let them do their job. This helps to built trust in a remote work environment and also helps them contribute their own innovative ideas to the business.
7. Be empathetic
Empathy is a skill that helps business owners and leaders connect with their team. Show genuine concern towards your employees’ well-being. Make them understand that they are humans before workers. You can show empathy by listening when your employees share concerns and understand when they need to be unavailable for a meeting due to personal reasons or time zone challenges. When your employees see that their wellbeing matters, they will trust your leadership and show up with their best.
8. Lead by example
In a remote work setting, trust is built when your team members see you demonstrate the values you expect from them. Be transparent, and your employees will follow in your footsteps. Additionally, share milestones achieved, challenges being faced and areas where additional work is needed. This builds transparency and gives your employees a sense of belonging.
Benefits of building trust with your remote team
Building trust within your remote team is not just a skill you need to cultivate as a business leader, it is the glue that holds your team together.
When trust is built, you create an environment where open communication is encouraged. Your team members find it easy to share their innovative ideas, their analysis of your competitors and strategies they believe can foster business growth.
Furthermore, when trust is present, your team will be willing to embrace change, take up extra roles or learn the use of a new technology. A trusted team works together to make sure your business stays competitive.
Moreover, trust promotes a healthier work environment, creates room for employees to be creative and ultimately leads to an improved retention rate.
Conclusion- Build trust with your team
Building trust with your remote team is a must. It serves as the foundation for business growth and success. Trust does not only create a positive work environment, it empowers your employees to stay true to the business values and mission.
As a small business owner, your ability to cultivate trust among your remote team will build a productive work environment, improve the team’s performance and set your business up for success.
