I am far from impulsive when it comes to spending hefty sums of money.

A new couch? I’ll definitely lose a few months of my life researching the best value. Replacing our deck? I guarantee multiple contractors will be stopping by.

However, if my car mechanic tells me that the repair to my well-worn minivan will cost $700, I don’t look at him with skepticism and I definitely don’t ask, “Is this repair really necessary?” I might even smile as I hand over my credit card. Why you ask? Because my auto mechanic has earned my trust.

This didn’t happen overnight, but developed gradually; the trust was built with every visit when I anticipated an expensive repair but was instead charged $35 for “a minor fix” or, even better, was sent home with the assurance that nothing was wrong with my car.

So, my question for you is: What are you doing to build trust at work? Because without it, your culture is compromised and people aren’t going to stick around.

There are many ways to create a culture of trust at work, but here are two which make a big impact:

Give people room to do their jobs.
I get it. Sometimes we think we are the only ones who will do the job well. But no one wants to be micromanaged, and frankly, people want the opportunity to grow and demonstrate their competence. So be generous with your trust in others. Just provide clear objectives and confirm that, if needed, guidance will be sought. And then get out of their way and watch them fly.

Give people the truth. Always.
You’re going to miss the deadline? Say so. A client asks for something you aren’t sure you can deliver? Don’t promise anything except that you will get back to them with an answer. Your colleague wants feedback on the presentation he just bombed? Take the time to share constructive thoughts on how he can improve it for the next time.

Whatever you do, don’t underestimate the power of trust—it is what makes or breaks relationships and organizations.

Building trusting relationships is like caring for my aging minivan—with proper maintenance, both will last a very long time. (The downside is that I was really hoping for a new SUV…)