The purpose of this assignment requires consideration of how to develop and maintain trust at work, as well as how teams are built within the workplace and what effects and concerns a manager needs to be aware of.
Teams are more than just groups of people assembled in the same area, they are a collection of individuals dedicated to a common purpose and with a series of detailed performance targets, working together with complementary skills. Teams of people are encountered in various scenarios, not just in the workplace, but also throughout life, such as sports, associations, charities and voluntary services.
Effective teams are built on trust and are developed and maintained by the manager’s understanding of each member’s role within the team during the stages of team building.
Developing and Maintaining Trust
The basis for developing and maintaining trust lies on building a rapport with your colleagues, which relies on both parties having mutual respect, and a level of empathy existing between individuals. These characteristics will lead to a certain amount of benevolence between colleagues and this is underpinned by the ability to express genuineness and the capability or capacity to be yourself consistently. When a manager combines these traits and promotes openness throughout the team, it will support the growth and balance of an effective team. Ensuring that trust is maintained within the team promotes independent working but also encourages interdependence amongst team members.
Through frequent communication with staff and team members, managers can build levels of trust by making use of both formal and informal contact by means of memos, team meetings or one-to-one appraisals. It is vital that all information is passed on in a timely manner and actions are carried out as agreed. Openness should be encouraged through face-to-face communication and confidentiality must be assured.
Confidentiality is