
Trust is important in all workplace relationships.
© iStockphoto/mevans
There are some roles and professions where trust is critical.
For instance, can you imagine being a firefighter, and not being able to trust other firefighters on your team? Or, a doctor, and not being able to trust certain nurses or physicians in the emergency room?
People who have jobs like this need to be able to trust the people they work with. Without that trust, lives can, and likely will, be lost.
When you trust the people you work with and do business with, you can work together seamlessly. You're more effective; you're happy to take worthwhile risks; and you can work securely, knowing that your co-workers will support you - just as you will support them.
In this article we're looking at trust - what it is, why it's important, and how you can develop it. We'll also explore what you can do to rebuild trust if it's been lost.
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Rousseau, D.M. et al (1998) 'Not So Different After All: A Cross-Discipline View of Trust,' Academy of Management Review, Vol. 23, No. 3.
Schoorman, F.D, Mayer, R.C. and Davis, J.H (2007) 'An Integrative Model of Organizational Trust: Past, Present, and Future,' Academy of Management Review, Vol. 32, No. 2.
Ellis, P. et al (2000) 'Organizational Trust: What it Means, Why it Matters,' Organization Development Journal, January 2000.