7 ways to build a trustworthy workplace for your gaming business

A happy, productive games studio is only as good as its team - and while it may be the brainchild of its founder, it’s the individuals who make up the business who all bring strengths and talents to making it a success. 

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You can source the best UX designers, coders and devs, but there are more intangible requirements of a team other than skills and experience. Trust is of the utmost importance to a happy, safe and functioning business - but how do you build a trustworthy team, where not only do you have faith in the moral conduct of your hires, but your team also has the same confidence in their co-workers.

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“Employees in high-trust organisations are more productive, have more energy at work, collaborate better with their colleagues, and stay with their employers longer than people working at low-trust companies. They also suffer less chronic stress and are happier with their lives, and these factors fuel stronger performance.” Harvard Business Review.

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Trust is the cornerstone of a successful gaming business - it ties everything together: from employee wellbeing, to the relationship you have with your customers and regulators.

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But like all things we attain to have, building trust is not easy. It relies on you to set the stage for a business that is honest, straightforward, and transparent. But with multiple plates spinning when building a company, how do you go about creating trust?

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Building trust in your gaming studio is crucial for fostering strong relationships with your team, partners, and the gaming community. Here’s how you can build and maintain that trust:

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Act the part

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As business leader, it’s up to you to lead by example through actions and behaviours. It's crucial to be honest, transparent, and consistent in your communication and decision-making. Maintain integrity and ethical standards in every part of your work.

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When a leader's words and actions are inconsistent, it can significantly undermine their ability to inspire and gain their team's trust. If team members notice a disconnect between what is promised and what is delivered, they may begin to question the leader's intentions and competence. So, deliver what you promise, own up to mistakes and be as open as possible. 

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Effective leaders understand the significance of building trust through consistent actions, transparent communication, and aligning their words with their behavior. By leading with enthusiasm, inspiration, and a clear vision, they foster an environment where trust can thrive. Teams grounded in trust are more likely to remain engaged, motivated, and dedicated to achieving shared goals. However, when trust erodes, productivity can suffer, enthusiasm may wane, and the collective drive toward the vision becomes less compelling.

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Encourage open communication

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Keep your team informed about the studio’s goals, challenges, and decisions. Regular updates and town hall meetings can help create a culture of openness. What are the challenges in your workplace, industry, economy? Talk through any red flags on the horizon with the same openness you’d discuss company successes.

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Your team may have questions or concerns about anything from the wider gaming landscape to the product roadmap. A good leader is always prepared to have these conversations, be frank but offer assurance, where necessary. You’re in charge of the hearts and minds of your workforce, and great leadership can inspire, motivate and cultivate a culture of trust.

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Reporting

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Implementing a whistleblowing platform is not a signal that there is something wrong within the company. It is a flag in the sand to say ‘This company does not tolerate misconduct - and we provide our employees with the means to mitigate this threat’.

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Setting up a reporting channel allows your workforce to flag any workplace misconduct, but its very presence can act as a deterrent for this kind of behaviour. Investing in this system provides security to the employee that their workplace is focused on ethical behaviour, and invested in the safety and happiness of its employees.

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Integrity and Ethical Practices

With any form of gaming, the subject of fair play looms large. By implementing ethical practices in your game design, such as fair monetisation models and avoiding manipulative mechanics, you generate loyalty with your customer base: players appreciate studios that respect them.

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Look at the diversity and inclusion in your business, do you create an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and respected? This extends to your games, are you ensuring they reflect diverse perspectives? Be conscious of creating harmful stereotypes or glorifying violence in a way that could negatively affect the player - and have an effect on your team members.

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Hire smart

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The gaming industry is highly competitive, with a small talent pool, and a race among studios to find the best in their field. While gaming can be an employee’s market, studios must hire with caution. While your shortlist might have incredible CVs, only a thorough background screening process will tell you whether they are the right fit for your business. 

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Screening uncovers information about a candidate’s past that may have a significant impact on their position in your company. From criminal background and social media checks, to ensuring they have a right to work in the country and verifying their qualifications, there is a wide range of different checks to suit the job role, and Veremark is one of the world’s leaders in providing comprehensive screening to the gaming industry. 

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Engage with your community

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Yes, the gaming community is very opinionated, but what an incredible source of information, feedback and ideas. 

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By engaging with your community through forums, events or social media, you can build a loyal following who definitely won’t hold back when you make a wrong step. Learn to take the punches, as much as the positive feedback, and act on them.

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By involving your community this way and through beta testing or early access, you foster a sense of ownership and trust. This following will be integral to your growth.

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Thought Leadership

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As the head of your company, you also become the face. While this may be uncomfortable for some business leaders, it can also be a marketing asset you can use to push your product.

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Share insights, be active in industry discussions, and contribute positively to the gaming community. This can help establish your studio as a trusted leader in the industry.

By focusing on these principles, your gaming studio can cultivate trust, leading to stronger relationships, a loyal player base, and a more motivated team.

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Some of these you can do on your own. Others it helps to get support on. Discover how Veremark can help you build a safer, more trusted gaming environment with our global background screening services. Our checks that can be carried out anywhere in the world, for whatever position you’re hiring for - and ensure 100% compliance, so whatever jurisdiction you’re working in, you have total peace of mind.

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