How can you build trust with a new team member who is hesitant to share their ideas?
Building trust with a new team member who is hesitant to share their thoughts can be a delicate process. As a leader, your role involves creating an environment where all members feel valued and safe to express their ideas. It's essential to understand that trust is the cornerstone of effective teamwork, and it doesn't develop overnight. It requires patience, empathy, and a strategic approach. Remember, fostering a culture of trust not only benefits the individual but also enhances the overall performance of the team.
Active listening is a powerful tool in building trust. When you listen attentively to your new team member, you demonstrate that you value their perspective. Ensure that you maintain eye contact, nod in agreement, and ask clarifying questions. By doing so, you'll make them feel heard and respected, which can gradually coax them out of their shell. Remember, active listening also involves being mindful of non-verbal cues, as they can often communicate more than words.
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William Lee
Partner @ ABRUPTc | Board Member @ BC
When building trust with a new team member who is hesitant to share their ideas, active listening is essential. Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Walgreens, exemplifies this approach. During her time at Starbucks, Brewer made it a point to listen actively to her team members, maintaining eye contact, nodding in agreement, and asking clarifying questions. This attentiveness made her team feel heard and respected, encouraging them to open up and share their ideas. By being mindful of non-verbal cues and demonstrating genuine interest in their perspectives, you can build a foundation of trust, helping your new team member feel more comfortable and confident in sharing their thoughts.
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Derrick LAU
LinkedIn Community Top Voice🔅| Customer-Centric Leader | Enhancing Service Efficiency and Quality @ Endress+Hauser Group
1. Focus on understanding: Making eye contact, nodding, and asking questions show you're engaged and want to hear their thoughts. 2. Respectful communication: This fosters a safe space for them to share openly without judgment. 3. Beyond words: Non-verbal cues like posture and facial expressions can reveal anxieties or excitement, allowing you to tailor your approach.
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Daniel Gonzales
Western K-12 Market Leader @ Carrier | Servant Leader | Culture Shaper | Team Builder | Empowering Others to Drive Exceptional Results
If you keep talking over someone, they will eventually stop contributing. So it’s important to master the art of listening. Be present, limit distractions and be comfortable with silence.
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Encourage Open Communication Active Listening: • Listen Attentively: Practice active listening by paying full attention when the new member speaks, showing that you value their input. • Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage them to elaborate on their ideas by asking open-ended questions. Feedback Culture: • Constructive Feedback: Provide constructive and supportive feedback on their ideas, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. • Seek Their Input: Actively seek their feedback on team processes and decisions to show that their opinions matter.
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Jorge Mario Ochoa
HQ Information Security Officer | Board Member | Keynote Speaker | Professor |Mentor | Author
To build trust with a new team member who is hesitant to share their ideas, active listening is key. When you listen attentively, you show that you value their perspective. Maintain eye contact 👀, nod in agreement 👍, and ask clarifying questions ❓. These actions help them feel heard and respected, encouraging them to open up. For example, during a team meeting, if your new member suggests a minor improvement, you can respond with: "That's an interesting idea, could you explain how it would work in our current system?" By showing genuine interest and asking for more details, you validate their contribution and make them more comfortable sharing their thoughts. Non-verbal cues like a smile 😊 or a nod often speak louder than words.
Constructive feedback is a vital component of trust-building. It shows that you're invested in your team member's growth and success. When providing feedback, be specific, focus on the behavior, not the person, and always highlight areas for improvement. Balancing positive feedback with constructive criticism can help new members feel appreciated for their strengths while also understanding how they can contribute more effectively.
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Derrick LAU
LinkedIn Community Top Voice🔅| Customer-Centric Leader | Enhancing Service Efficiency and Quality @ Endress+Hauser Group
1. Specificity is key: Focus on a specific action or behavior, not generalities about their personality. 2. Focus on growth: Frame feedback as an opportunity for them to learn and develop, not a personal attack. 3. Positive reinforcement: Balance criticism with genuine appreciation for their strengths. This creates a safe space for growth and learning.
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Daniel Gonzales
Western K-12 Market Leader @ Carrier | Servant Leader | Culture Shaper | Team Builder | Empowering Others to Drive Exceptional Results
One of the best tools for building trust in an organization is feedback. The more honest feedback you give and take, the better your company relations will end up being. When managers give constructive feedback, employees will always know that their faults will be pointed out to help them improve instead of being held against them. Similarly, when the employer receives feedback from their organization, they should be able to act on it. Make sure that your company and employees are all open to feedback. Everyone should be open to feedback, be it good or bad. And everyone should want to work on that feedback so that the company can grow together.
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Provide Clarity and Direction Set Clear Expectations: • Role Clarity: Clearly outline their role, responsibilities, and the importance of their contributions to the team’s success. • Encourage Initiative: Make it clear that you value proactive thinking and initiative. Goal Alignment: • Shared Vision: Help them understand how their ideas and work align with the team’s and organization’s goals. • Impact Awareness: Highlight how their unique perspective can positively impact the team and projects.
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Luis Rafael Garcia Soler
Project Manager | Product Owner | Scrum Master | Demand and Delivery Lead | PMO | Incident Manager | Service Now
Offering timely and supportive feedback is crucial. When team members know that their contributions are valued and that feedback is given with the intention of growth and improvement, it fosters trust. Be sure to highlight the strengths of their ideas and offer gentle suggestions for improvement where needed. This approach encourages openness and builds confidence in sharing ideas. Moreover, creating a safe space for feedback exchange—where team members can also provide input on ideas—helps in building mutual respect and trust. It shows that everyone's perspective is valued, regardless of their tenure or experience within the team.
Sharing your own experiences and vulnerabilities can help establish common ground and humanize the leadership role. When you are open about your challenges and how you've overcome them, it encourages your team members to do the same. This act of vulnerability can create a strong bond and signal that it's safe for them to share their ideas without fear of judgment or ridicule.
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Milos E.
It can be difficult for a new team member to adjust, and it may take time for them to truly feel like a part of the team and actively share their ideas. It’s important to acknowledge that adjusting takes time and to share some of your own experiences of joining the team to make them feel more at ease. By doing so, you create an environment where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Open communication is key, and by demonstrating vulnerability and openness yourself, you set a precedent that encourages them to do the same.
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William Lee
Partner @ ABRUPTc | Board Member @ BC
When building trust with a new team member, sharing your own experiences and vulnerabilities can be very effective. Mary Dillon, former CEO of Ulta Beauty, often shared her personal challenges and growth stories with her team. She spoke openly about the difficulties she faced and how she overcame them, which helped humanize her leadership role and build a strong bond with her team. This vulnerability encouraged her team members to share their own ideas and challenges without fear of judgment. By being open about your experiences, you can create an environment of trust and safety, making it easier for new team members to share their ideas.
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Daniel Gonzales
Western K-12 Market Leader @ Carrier | Servant Leader | Culture Shaper | Team Builder | Empowering Others to Drive Exceptional Results
Be real and don't shy away from showing your emotions. In doing so, you show your authenticity, which strengthens the connections with your people.
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Stefan Powell
Executive Performance Coach - Helping Good People Lead Great Things
How can you build trust with a new team member who is hesitant to share their ideas? Be open yourself Share examples of where people being open has been listed to and the ideas/thoughts been employed. Frame the request in smaller chunks - sometimes when we ask - what would you do... its too 'big a question' instead ask 'what would you do about (this part of the process). Give them time and say I'm happy for you to give a gut instinct and go test it and come back to me Most of all anticipate that they may not have been asked this early into a role or ever before. Stefan
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Create a Supportive Environment Welcome and Onboard Effectively: • Warm Welcome: Ensure the new team member feels welcomed from the start. Introduce them to the team and provide a thorough onboarding process. • Buddy System: Pair the new member with a buddy or mentor to help them navigate their new environment and feel more comfortable. Safe Space: • Non-Judgmental Atmosphere: Foster a culture where ideas are respected and valued, regardless of how unconventional they might be. • Encourage Participation: Invite the new member to share their thoughts in meetings, but without putting them on the spot.
Clarity in expectations can alleviate a lot of anxiety for new team members. Clearly outline the team's goals, individual roles, and how you measure success. When people know what's expected of them, they're more likely to share ideas that align with those objectives. Furthermore, this clarity helps in establishing a sense of purpose and direction for the new member.
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Daniel Gonzales
Western K-12 Market Leader @ Carrier | Servant Leader | Culture Shaper | Team Builder | Empowering Others to Drive Exceptional Results
Building trust in the workplace is more likely to happen when people have clarity around what is expected of them. It’s easy to cross lines when they aren’t clear. A study from Gallup discovered that only 50 percent of employees are aware of what their manager expects from them at work. Clarity limits workplace conflict and upset by establishing guidelines for what is expected and accepted. It also informs people of what will not be tolerated in the workplace. When a leader creates these boundaries, they set clear perimeters for how the team operates.
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Derrick LAU
LinkedIn Community Top Voice🔅| Customer-Centric Leader | Enhancing Service Efficiency and Quality @ Endress+Hauser Group
Clarity in expectations is a game-changer for new team members. Here's why it's so important: ✅ Reduced Anxiety: Knowing what's expected removes the guesswork, reducing stress and allowing them to focus on their work. ✅ Alignment with Goals: When they understand team goals and their individual role, they can tailor their ideas and contributions for maximum impact. ✅ Purpose and Direction: Clear expectations provide a roadmap, giving them a sense of purpose and direction within the team.
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Luis Rafael Garcia Soler
Project Manager | Product Owner | Scrum Master | Demand and Delivery Lead | PMO | Incident Manager | Service Now
Openly discussing the team's values, goals, and communication norms helps create a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing. Setting expectations about openness, respect for diverse viewpoints, and the importance of sharing ideas encourages mutual trust. Moreover, as a leader, demonstrating openness and vulnerability yourself can also encourage others to do the same. When team members see that their ideas are valued and that feedback is constructive, it builds confidence and trust over time.
Promote an environment where collaboration is the norm. Encourage your new team member to work closely with others on projects or tasks. This peer interaction can be a less intimidating way for them to share their ideas and contribute to discussions. As they become more comfortable with their colleagues, their confidence in sharing with the larger group will likely increase.
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Alex Manoel
Product Development Engineer | MBA International Business & Project Management | Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
The best way to encourage collaboration is by creating an environment based on trust and transparency. Before to expect that the new team member have confidence to share ideas, we need first give the example sharing ours ideas. Encouraging by example is the strongest way to create a collaborative environment.
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Tina Roed
Leadership & Coach | I help organizations succeed in SAP Digitalization's and Business Transformations, and people benefit from change | Lead SAP Architect | Master in Education & Learning | Cand. Scient. Oecon.
Building trust with a new team member who is hesitant to share their ideas involves creating an environment where they feel valued, respected, and safe. Encouraging collaboration is key to fostering this trust. Share your own thoughts, ideas, and challenges openly. Encourage a culture where ideas are discussed openly without fear of criticism or ridicule. Emphasize that all contributions are valuable. Demonstrate that it’s safe to be vulnerable and transparent. Show genuine interest in their ideas and opinions by listening actively. Show trust in your team members by delegating responsibilities and allowing them to take ownership of their work. #leadership #collaboration #strategy #trust #accountability
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Dorothy B.
Establish trust with new team members by promoting open communication, recognizing trustworthy behavior, and offering growth opportunities through regular check-ins, personal experiences, and meaningful projects. • Foster a safe environment for open expression of ideas and concerns. • Regularly update the team on successes and failures. • Invest in relationship building activities to strengthen interpersonal relationships. • Recognize and reward trustworthy behavior through public recognition or private praise. • Provide growth opportunities for professional development and trust in new responsibilities.
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Luis Rafael Garcia Soler
Project Manager | Product Owner | Scrum Master | Demand and Delivery Lead | PMO | Incident Manager | Service Now
Creating opportunities for team members to work together on projects or brainstorming sessions can break down barriers. When individuals collaborate, they often discover shared goals and develop mutual respect for each other's contributions. This collaborative environment fosters trust and encourages everyone, including hesitant team members, to feel more comfortable sharing their ideas. Moreover, as a leader, actively participating in collaborative efforts and showcasing the value of teamwork sets a positive example. It demonstrates that every team member's input is valued and contributes to the collective success.
Acknowledging and celebrating contributions is crucial in building trust. When a new team member offers an idea, recognize their input promptly and publicly when appropriate. This recognition reinforces their value to the team and encourages them to continue contributing. It's important that they see their ideas are not only heard but also appreciated and can make a difference.
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Milos E.
The first time a new team member gets the courage to express their opinion and suggest a new idea, it may not be that great or feasible. But you shouldn’t shut them down and harshly reject their contribution. Instead, acknowledge their effort and provide constructive feedback. Emphasize the positive aspects of their suggestion and gently guide them on how it could be improved or made more feasible. This approach not only helps them refine their ideas but also encourages them to continue participating and sharing their thoughts in the future. By fostering a supportive atmosphere where all ideas are welcomed and valued, you build a culture of collaboration and innovation within the team.
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Daniel Gonzales
Western K-12 Market Leader @ Carrier | Servant Leader | Culture Shaper | Team Builder | Empowering Others to Drive Exceptional Results
Celebrate achievements big and small with your team! When gratitude is reciprocal, we feel valued as a team player. Not only does it help with wider employee engagement and productivity, but leaders who take a moment to celebrate victories also reinforce trust.
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Leonardo De La Rocha
Good contribution recognition includes acknowledging the specific skills exhibited by your team members. From there, you can focus on empowering them by aligning tasks with those unique strengths. This boosts their confidence and maximizes future contributions. Some tips: If you're their direct manager, use 1:1 conversations to uncover their passions and skills through conversation. Stretch them by offering growth opportunities within their comfort zone and providing support. Publicly acknowledge achievements, highlighting their unique contribution. Consider creating a company-wide @Slack channel for #giving-thanks and call-out contributions for all to see.
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Recognizing the contributions of your team members is crucial for maintaining motivation, building confidence, and fostering a positive work environment. Public Acknowledgment Team Meetings: Highlight Achievements: Regularly highlight individual and team achievements during meetings. This public acknowledgment can boost morale and motivate others. Rotating Spotlight: Implement a rotating spotlight where different team members are recognized for their contributions each week. Company-Wide Announcements: Newsletter Features: Include accomplishments in company newsletters or bulletins to give broader recognition. All-Hands Meetings: Mention notable contributions in all-hands meetings or other large gatherings to ensure wider recognition
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Chasity Wells-Armstrong
𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 & 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 - Shattered the Glass Ceiling 🔥 1st Black Mayor / I Help Women Aspiring to Public Office & Alignment in Their Careers / DEI / Labs 🐶
I make a practice of recognizing team members publicly and their contributions. Doing this with a new team member creates a culture of safety, trust and respect. Even if an idea is not feasible for the entire team, I acknowledge the person who shares and helps the team to consider a different perspective. There is value in the diversity of perspectives and I don't just say this but put it into practice when team members offer ideas.
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RAMINDER SINGH, PMP®
Vice President, Business & Systems Support @ Kenanga | Project Management | Award Winning Professional | Fitness Enthusiast | Passionate In Empowering People | PMP®
Understand that building trust takes time. Be patient and respectful of the team member's pace and comfort level in sharing ideas. Avoid pressuring or rushing them. Demonstrate openness and willingness to share your own ideas and vulnerabilities. This can help create a culture of trust and openness within the team.
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Ritwik Raj Saxena ℹ️
Software Engineer || Author || Researcher || Machine Learning || Data Science || Project Management || Mechatronics || Biomedical Science || Analysis || Agile || Scrum || Decision-making || Computer Vision || DTU (DCE)
Psychological safety & acknowledging diverse perspectives become key in developing trust in an organization. By creating a safe space for team members where they feel comfortable taking risks & expressing themselves, actively soliciting their ideas with open-ended questions like "What are your initial thoughts on this?", praising contributions of all types, both in private & during team meetings, a leader sends a message that each voice is valued. Thoughtful questions must be acknowledged. Thank members for offering different viewpoints. Team-building exercises & icebreakers help encourage informal interaction & ease the team dynamic. This way, new team members feel safe, valued, & empowered, & develop trust in the leadership.
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Pramod Patel
Founder Divyangkala | Motivational Speaker | Corporate Speaker | Counselor | Advisor | Actor | Dancer | Poet | #CerebralPalsy #SocialEntrepreneur #Inspirer #EmpowerDisabled
As he is new in the team so it as leader I will understand his behaviour introvert or extrovert in most of the cases it is introvert so he is hesitating in sharing the ideas . I will push to share the ideas and thoughts in every meeting so that you are she get chance to communicate and get familiar with the team In my view the leader is its true leader then the leader's main aim is to give value to their team members and at the same time build another leader in everyone in the team so that they can take a risk and take a decision for the well being of the community despite their field. Their experience can be the lessons for their team . Empowered them in right direction according to their career #Leader #Leadership #teambuilding #honesty
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Jake D.
Collaborative Leader | Building High Performing Teams | Driving Sustainable Quality Growth.
Demonstrate Reliability and Consistency Be Approachable: • Open Door Policy: Maintain an open-door policy, encouraging the new member to come to you with questions or concerns. • Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular one-on-one meetings to discuss their progress, challenges, and any ideas they might have. Follow Through: • Keep Promises: Follow through on any commitments you make to the new member to build trust. • Provide Support: Actively support their initiatives and show that you value their contributions.
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