Values blog series: Why trust and accountability matter

The 'Values and Wellbeing' blog series invites the winners of our Values Awards to share what their award means to them, and how living these values has shaped their own and others’ wellbeing. 

Ru Jia, winner of the Trustworthy and Accountable award, explores what being trustworthy and accountable means to them.

Working as a team is something we all value. Having colleagues you can trust and depend on - or being that person whom others can rely on - is, in my view, an essential part of a strong team.

Being trustworthy and accountable can take many forms in our work. We are fortunate to have many wonderful colleagues in this department: ensuring everyone is paid on time, organising administrative tasks, providing students with valuable feedback and grades, and designing and delivering hundreds of excellent research projects. Everything functions like a well-oiled machine. Each person plays an essential role in the positive working environment we enjoy today.

But what happens when things don’t go according to plan? One of the things we love about research is its uncertainty - we discover new and exciting knowledge by exploring the unknown. However, uncertainty can also bring stress. This is especially true when you have just joined a new team, when colleagues leave to pursue other opportunities, when research projects do not go as planned, or when changes are required in the tools and materials used in our studies. These situations arise more often than we would like, sometimes all at once. They can make us feel as though we are in the middle of a storm, with no sign of sunlight.

At times, uncertainty may simply mean that one or some of us work especially hard for a short period before things settle again. But at other times, it can lead to a gradual accumulation of work, where individuals take on more and more responsibility until burnout becomes a real risk.

Any occupational health and well-being expert would tell us that burnout poses a serious threat to a healthy working environment. Therefore, in times of uncertainty, having colleagues we can trust and depend on becomes critically important. It means holding each other’s hands through the storm, being a source of calm for one another, working through challenges together, and ensuring that no one is left behind.

There are three key values that help us achieve this:

(1) Communication.
This is perhaps the most important aspect of being a trustworthy and accountable colleague. We should communicate effectively within our teams, clarifying shared expectations and commitments so that we understand what we can realistically expect from one another. When challenges arise, we should talk about them openly. It is through communication that we find the best ways to respond, support each other’s well-being, and adjust plans when needed.

(2) Planning ahead.
Being organised—with your files, your work, and your time—can prevent a great deal of stress later on. We have all experienced moments when our “past self” made life easier for our “present self.” Good planning is a simple but powerful way to support both ourselves and our team.

(3) Being open about well-being.
It takes courage to admit when we are stressed or overwhelmed. It also requires effort to create an environment where colleagues feel safe being vulnerable. However, being more transparent about our well-being allows the team to respond more effectively to challenges and uncertainty. It strengthens trust and helps build the supportive relationships we need to stay well together.