How to earn back your employees’ trust

Start by paying attention to the factors that workers value most

You can’t really blame employees for losing trust in management these days. Downsizings, cutbacks, and repeated reports of executive greed and misfeasance are taking their toll.

In an online survey of more than 1,200 U.S. workers conducted in February by Harris Interactive (for Addeco Group North America), 90 percent said their confidence in the top management of their company has declined in light of the recession.

Your employees want to trust you. That’s the first thing to remember. Earning back their confidence – not to mention winning it in the first place — takes time and care, starting by paying attention to the factors that workers value most:

• Honesty. Employees want the truth. They want to know how decisions are really made, especially decisions about their employment and future. And they can tell when you’re being evasive or hiding behind buzzwords. Communicate as much as you can, and do it promptly before the rumor mill can twist the facts around. If you don’t have the answer to a question, just say so. Then do your best to find it and share it.