Neuroscience researcher Paul J. Zak has been studying trust for many years. A recent Inc. column by Marissa Levin summarized some of his key research findings. Zak has discovered that people at high-trust organizations experience less stress, higher productivity, more engagement, and more job and personal satisfaction. How does one build a culture of trust in your organization? Zak advocates eight strategies:
- Recognize excellence
- Provide challenging (but not impossible) work for people
- Give workers the autonomy to choose how to do their work
- Give employees voice, particularly in how they design their jobs.
- Communicate clearly, concisely, and frequently.
- Build relationships among employees.
- Facilitate whole-person growth and development.
- Show vulnerability as a leader, thus making others feel psychologically safe.