Key to Building Trust in Remote Teams

By Cheryl L. Mason, J.D.

Trust in the workplace is generally defined from the employee perspective. To employees, trust means that leaders listen and hear them, that the leader supports and values them and their work through tools from technology to downtime, and that the leader champions them. There is another aspect of trust in the workplace and that is the leader’s perspective. To leaders, trust means loyalty.

Regardless of the perspective, trust must be earned. It is hard in in person environment, and even more so in remote environment and for that reason, it is more important to build.

In the remote workplace, employees are assessing work and making decisions without the ability to pop into the next office or walk down the hall and ask a question. But the employee needs to know that this is okay, especially if an issue develops. Although if the environment is structured properly, that can and does happen. However, if there is not a foundation of trust between leaders and employees that sets these expectations, then leaders will not trust employees. If the employees do not believe that the leader trusts them, then there is a good chance the employee will not reach out for assistance because they don’t believe the leader or the organization has their back and respects them and their opinions.

The best way to build trust in remote teams is communication between team members including leaders. Setting the expectations that it is ok or even expect to reach out and ask questions, discuss issues, and bring problems forward. Teamwork should be the same whether in person or remote – always with faces present. This means turning on the cameras and participating.

Depending on the type of work, check ins among team members may need to occur daily, at the very least weekly.  These should be scheduled at times that work for the entire team, not just the leader. Finally, suggestions, solutions, and concerns should be encouraged and openly discussed. 

Having worked and led in both in person and remote situations, the leader often sets the tone through encouragement, respect, listening, and be open to discussion.