You’re now tasked with leading a team, meeting targets, and building a work culture that fosters trust and collaboration. But where do you start? If you’re a new manager looking to gain your team’s trust quickly, these 10 culture hacks will help you build a team you love and do it fast.
1. Schedule Regular One-on-Ones
Scheduling regular one-on-one meetings with your team members is a simple yet effective way to build trust. These sessions create a safe space for your team to share their thoughts, challenges, and aspirations.
By dedicating time to listen actively, you show that you value their input. This not only boosts their confidence but also helps you understand their individual strengths and weaknesses. Use this time to offer constructive feedback and acknowledge their hard work. Remember, the goal is to make them feel heard and appreciated, not corrected.
2. Be Transparent
Transparency is the foundation of trust. Being open and honest with your team about company goals, changes, or challenges helps eliminate any feelings of uncertainty or distrust.
Share information as freely as you can. Whether it’s good news or bad, your team deserves to know what’s happening. When people feel informed, they’re more likely to trust your leadership and remain engaged.
Transparency also extends to admitting mistakes. If something goes wrong, own up to it and explain how you plan to fix it. This kind of honesty fosters a culture of trust and accountability.
3. Say No to Micromanagement
Micromanagement is the strongest anti-culture hack (work with us on that one). Giving your team the autonomy to make decisions shows that you trust their abilities. But how do you balance oversight with autonomy?
Start by clearly defining roles and responsibilities. Once everyone knows what’s expected, step back and allow them to perform their tasks. Check-in periodically rather than hovering constantly. Use tools like project management software to keep track of progress without being intrusive.
Encourage problem-solving and decision-making within the team. This not only builds their confidence but also frees up your time to focus on bigger strategic issues.
4. Lead by Example
Actions speak louder than words. Leading by example is perhaps the most powerful way to build trust. If you expect your team to be punctual, hardworking, and respectful, you must embody these traits yourself.
For example, if you want a culture of open communication, be the first to share ideas and ask for feedback. If you value work-life balance, don’t send emails during off-hours. Your behavior sets the tone for the entire team.
5. Celebrate Wins
Make it a habit to acknowledge team efforts in meetings or through company-wide emails. Highlight specific contributions and explain how they impacted the project or company goals. This culture hack shows that you notice and appreciate their hard work.
6. Practice Employee Recognition & Rewards
Consider different ways to reward your team, such as monthly awards, bonuses, or employee recognition software. Tailor your recognition to what motivates each individual—some may appreciate public acknowledgment while others might prefer private praise.
Our favorite culture hack is Build Then Bless—take a look!
7. Set Goals with Team Members
Set simple goals with each team member and follow up during one-on-ones. Help your team see that these goals give them tangible evidence that they’re providing value and making an impact.
8. Take Time for Team Building Exercises
This can be as simple as a fun question at the beginning of each meeting or as detailed as a work retreat. If your team doesn’t know and trust each other, they won’t be able to collaborate and produce great work.
9. Encourage Feedback
Feedback is a two-way street. While giving feedback is important, receiving it is equally crucial. Encourage an open feedback culture where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and suggestions.
Create anonymous surveys or suggestion boxes to collect feedback without any fear of judgment. Discuss these points in team meetings and take action on viable suggestions.
10. Recognize Birthdays and Personal Milestones
Acknowledging personal milestones like birthdays or work anniversaries can make a big difference in how valued your team members feel. These small gestures show that you see them as individuals, not just employees.
Keep a calendar of important dates and make it a point to celebrate them. If you’re in-person, bring their favorite treat to the office. For remote employees, DoorDash or Instacart will be your best friend. Even a shout-out during a meeting can go a long way in building a sense of belonging and trust.
Build Then Bless Is the Ultimate Culture Hack
During 2021, over 40 million people quit their jobs and a survey found that 57% of people did so because they didn’t feel respected at work. As a new manager, the best way to see results is to make sure your team feels recognized and appreciated. Build Then Bless can help you do that!
It gives your team a platform to publicly recognize each other, send money as “thank yous,” keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries, see your coworkers’ favorite things they might like as gifts, and so much more. In the end, it creates happier people, increased employee retention, and a better bottom line. What new manager doesn’t want that?
Schedule a demo to see the platform in action.
