A reader asks, “Maybe a post on how to proceed when relationships have been eroded among team members? With a small team, I find it especially challenging.”
Trust is the engine of team performance.
7 faces of distrust:
#1. Tearing down the people you should build up.
#2. Wishing failure on people instead of celebrating their success.
#3. Viewing team members as enemies instead of allies.
#4. Self-protection and defensiveness.
#5. Surprises during performance reviews.
#6. Planning-meetings that exclude input from the people who are impacted by the plans.
#7. Constant rule-making. Distrustful teams use rules to protect themselves from each other.
Bonus: Hidden agendas.
10 traits of trustful teammates:
#1. Know, honor, and celebrate the top three strengths of everyone on the team.
#2. Talk openly about weaknesses. (A person who has no weakness is self-deceived and untrustworthy. They will blame you to protect their image.)
#3. Enjoy playful mischief. One organization gives the “Duck Butt” award. This year it went to a person who hit the overhang of a drive-through with a company vehicle.
#4. Ask forgiveness. “I was wrong,” builds trust.
#5. Express sincere enthusiasm for another’s success.
#6. Speak about others as if they are in the room, when they aren’t.
#7. Assume others have good intentions. Trust gives the benefit of the doubt.
#8. Protect each other’s best interests. Self-protection weakens relationships.
#9. Examine personal responsibilities before finger-pointing.
#10. Open their mouths to build-up.
3 ways to rebuild eroded trust:
#1. Define trust.
It’s impossible to build trust if you haven’t defined it in theoretical, practical, and emotional terms.
#2. Describe trustworthy behaviors.
You need to know the actions that express trust and the unacceptable behaviors that violate trust.
#3. Extend trust before it’s earned.
Distrust is earned. Trust is given.
We are all trust-givers.
Trust is given every time you drive on the freeway or walk down an airbridge to your seat on a plane.
What are some faces of distrust that you have seen?
How might teams build/rebuild trust?
Bonus material:
The Speed of Trust (Covey)
Ten Ways to Build Trust on Your Team (Forbes)
Why trust is critical to team success (CCL)
Building Trust Inside Your Team (Mindtools)
