There’s a key ingredient at the heart of every successful team — and yet, it’s one that’s often overlooked in day-to-day operations.

That ingredient is trust.

Trust is essential for creating a psychologically safe and high-performing work environment — where people feel secure, valued, and empowered to do their best work. Without it, even the best strategies or systems will fail to deliver meaningful, sustainable results.

But don’t just take our word for it. Gallup research found that at highly trusted workplaces, employees are 50% more productive and outperform companies with low levels of trust by 186%. And this is shown in the bottom line, with statistics showing that companies that have high levels of trust outperform their competitors by 286% in shareholder returns.

Why Trust Matters in the Workplace

The data is clear. Gallup research shows that in high-trust workplaces:

  • Employees are 50% more productive

  • Teams experience 40% less burnout

  • Companies outperform competitors by 186%

  • And high-trust cultures deliver 286% higher shareholder returns

This isn’t just about feeling good at work — trust directly influences engagement, productivity, innovation, and retention.

Trust: The Cornerstone of Team Cohesion

Renowned organisational health expert Patrick Lencioni identifies trust as the foundation of his “Five Dysfunctions of a Team” model. He describes an absence of trust as the most critical dysfunction — one that undermines every other aspect of team performance.

Here’s how trust flows through the five behaviours of a cohesive team:

  1. Trust – Team members feel safe to be vulnerable, admit mistakes, and ask for help.

  2. Healthy Conflict – Trust allows for honest debate and respectful disagreement, which leads to better decisions.

  3. Commitment – With clarity and alignment, the team commits fully to decisions and plans of action.

  4. Accountability – Trust empowers peers to hold one another accountable without fear or defensiveness.

  5. Focus on Results – With strong relationships and clear goals, teams stay focused on outcomes, not egos or silos.

If your team lacks trust, these other behaviours are likely compromised.

How to Build (or Rebuild) Trust in Your Organisation

So, how do you foster a culture of trust?

It begins at the top — with leaders who model the right behaviours every day. Trust is built through consistency, transparency, and care — not through slogans or policies alone.

What high-trust leadership looks like:

  • Leading by example, even when it’s uncomfortable

  • Communicating openly and honestly — even when delivering bad news

  • Empowering employees with autonomy and decision-making authority

  • Being fair and consistent across the team

  • Recognising contributions and showing appreciation regularly

  • Admitting mistakes and showing vulnerability

Trust is earned over time — through daily actions and interactions, not just annual surveys or performance reviews.

Every Employee Plays a Role in Building Trust

Trust isn’t only the responsibility of leadership. Every team member contributes to building (or eroding) trust through the way they communicate, collaborate, and show up for one another.

Small, intentional actions go a long way:

  • Saying hello to teammates and acknowledging each other’s presence

  • Offering to help when a colleague is under pressure

  • Listening actively, without interrupting or judging

  • Showing genuine interest in others beyond their job title

  • Giving credit where it’s due and celebrating others’ wins

These moments might seem small, but collectively, they shape your team’s culture.

Building a Trust-Centered Culture Takes Time — But It’s Worth It

Trust doesn’t develop overnight. It requires consistency, emotional intelligence, and ongoing commitment. But when trust becomes part of your company’s DNA, you’ll see the results — in engagement, collaboration, retention, and performance.

Want Help Creating a High-Trust Culture?

At Common Goal Consulting, we partner with small and medium-sized businesses to build leadership capability, shape high-trust cultures, and design strategies that improve how teams work together.

We’ve helped organisations across Australia implement practical, people-focused strategies that build trust from the inside out.

Ready to strengthen trust in your workplace? Get in touch with our team today: www.commongoalconsulting.com.au/contact