Oh hey,
Well, what a week!
I've been thinking a lot about how important trust is in a team to create a brilliant performance.
Trust is the foundation of any strong team. And, when I say that, I mean both trust in ourselves as well as our teammates. Without it, collaboration becomes challenging, communication breaks down, and productivity suffers.
So, how can we build trust within our teams?
1. Start with transparency
Be open about your goals, challenges, and decision-making. For example, if a deadline is approaching, explain the urgency and involve the team in planning. Shared purpose fosters trust.
2. Show consistency
Follow through on your promises. If changes occur, communicate them promptly. Reliability builds trust.
3. Encourage open communication
Create a safe space for sharing thoughts and concerns. This openness leads to innovative solutions and an engaged team.
4. Recognise and appreciate
Recognition and appreciation go a long way in building trust. When team members feel valued for their contributions, they’re more likely to trust and support each other. Take the time to acknowledge both individual and team achievements, and celebrate your collective successes.
5. Lead by example
Trust starts at the top. As a leader, your actions set the tone for the entire team. Demonstrate the behaviours you want to see in your team members. Be honest, show integrity, and treat everyone with respect.
Now, let me share a real-life scenario that perfectly illustrates the importance of trust:
I once worked with a manager and an employee who didn’t trust each other. Both were honest and well-meaning individuals, but they had both experienced broken trust in the past. As a result, the manager’s response was to try to obtain as much information as possible, leaning heavily into micromanagement, while the employee’s reaction was to become very protective and secretive.
Can you guess what kind of outcome it created?
The employees' secrecy made the managers feel excluded and suspicious, leading them to micromanage even more. This, in turn, made the employee feel increasingly pressured and defensive. It was a vicious cycle that only deepened their mistrust and hindered their productivity and morale. So, I sat down with them both and helped them have some really honest conversations for the first time!
They both shared their past experiences and fears, which helped them understand each other’s behaviour a bit better. Gradually, they started working on transparency and consistent communication. They set clear boundaries and expectations, which reduced the need for micromanagement and allowed both the manager and employee to feel more secure.
Through these efforts, they rebuilt their trust and created a more collaborative and supportive working relationship.
Sometimes, just by doing the work to get to know each other more, that’s when the magic actually happens. Building trust can take time and effort, but believe me, the rewards are well worth it.
If you and your team need help building trust, see how our workplace coaching programmes could help you.
Wishing you a fantastic week!
Cate x
Oh hey,
Well, what a week!
I've been thinking a lot about how important trust is in a team to create a brilliant performance.
Trust is the foundation of any strong team. And, when I say that, I mean both trust in ourselves as well as our teammates. Without it, collaboration becomes challenging, communication breaks down, and productivity suffers.
So, how can we build trust within our teams?
1. Start with transparency
Be open about your goals, challenges, and decision-making. For example, if a deadline is approaching, explain the urgency and involve the team in planning. Shared purpose fosters trust.
2. Show consistency
Follow through on your promises. If changes occur, communicate them promptly. Reliability builds trust.
3. Encourage open communication
Create a safe space for sharing thoughts and concerns. This openness leads to innovative solutions and an engaged team.
4. Recognise and appreciate
Recognition and appreciation go a long way in building trust. When team members feel valued for their contributions, they’re more likely to trust and support each other. Take the time to acknowledge both individual and team achievements, and celebrate your collective successes.
5. Lead by example
Trust starts at the top. As a leader, your actions set the tone for the entire team. Demonstrate the behaviours you want to see in your team members. Be honest, show integrity, and treat everyone with respect.
Now, let me share a real-life scenario that perfectly illustrates the importance of trust:
I once worked with a manager and an employee who didn’t trust each other. Both were honest and well-meaning individuals, but they had both experienced broken trust in the past. As a result, the manager’s response was to try to obtain as much information as possible, leaning heavily into micromanagement, while the employee’s reaction was to become very protective and secretive.
Can you guess what kind of outcome it created?
The employees' secrecy made the managers feel excluded and suspicious, leading them to micromanage even more. This, in turn, made the employee feel increasingly pressured and defensive. It was a vicious cycle that only deepened their mistrust and hindered their productivity and morale. So, I sat down with them both and helped them have some really honest conversations for the first time!
They both shared their past experiences and fears, which helped them understand each other’s behaviour a bit better. Gradually, they started working on transparency and consistent communication. They set clear boundaries and expectations, which reduced the need for micromanagement and allowed both the manager and employee to feel more secure.
Through these efforts, they rebuilt their trust and created a more collaborative and supportive working relationship.
Sometimes, just by doing the work to get to know each other more, that’s when the magic actually happens. Building trust can take time and effort, but believe me, the rewards are well worth it.
If you and your team need help building trust, see how our workplace coaching programmes could help you.
Wishing you a fantastic week!
Cate x
