The Second Mouse Gets the Cheese- A Fresh Look at How to Improve Performance at Work through Effective Trust Building

Abstract

Managers across the world are under increasing pressures to improve the productivity levels of their teams in line with challenging organizational objectives and goals. This research investigates the value of building trust and how managers can apply this new knowledge practically and effectively in a number of different team structure situations. Outcomes from a literature review, face to face meetings and a focus group are presented, analysed and evaluated to complete the research objectives. A new trust model with specific behaviors and competences associated with effective building trust is presented. The findings suggest that managers need to be passionate about the work and the people they work with, that they must focus their attention on putting others first and that they must create environments based on openness, honesty, leading by example and making others feel special. The new trust model can be applied universally but different corporate and local cultures need to be considered.