Individuals and organizations continually rate trust as an issue among co-workers, across organizations, with higher ranking leaders, and sometimes even with clients!

Matter of fact, in the majority of assessments we conduct for teams and organizations, trust is the number one topic that is identified as a “need”. Does this hit a chord with you? Do you feel more could be accomplished, that collaboration would be greater, and goals more readily attained if levels of trust were stronger? Do you trust your team?

When people honor each other, there is a trust established that leads to synergy, interdependence, and deep respect. Both parties make decisions and choices based on what is right, what is best, what is valued most highly.
–Blaine Lee

Our team just completed the Five Behaviors Of A Cohesive Team Assessment (derived from Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions Of A Team. We’re currently in the process of debriefing each component, and although we scored high as a team, there were a few scores that caused reflection, and trust was one of them. (The evaluated components include building trust, mastering conflict, achieving commitment, embracing accountability, and focusing on results).

Transparency, Honesty, and Vulnerability

These traits are what Lencioni has determined to be key ingredients required for a team to be trusting and truly cohesive. In the assessment, team members score the team (not individuals) on trust related questions, and a summary of the compiled results provides specific areas to address, with suggestions for growing trust levels.

Team members provide their perceptions relative to the team’s ability to:

  • Admit weaknesses and mistakes
  • Ask for help
  • Accept questions and input regarding areas of responsibility
  • Give one another the benefit of the doubt before arriving at negative conclusions
  • Offer and accept apologies without hesitation

Despite scoring high, we felt we could become even stronger, brainstormed possible solutions to do so, and committed to speaking up if we deviated from our commitments. The intent? To not dilute our ability to become an even stronger, higher performing, more trusting team.

Trust is the foundation for success and fosters the flow of new and creative ideas. And as Warren Bemis says: Trust is the lubrication that makes it possible for organizations to work. You need to trust your team in order to succeed.

How would your team score itself in the transparency, honesty, and vulnerability categories?

QwikTip and QwikCoach

PeopleTek’s Strategic partner, E-Coach, specializes in online coaching tools.

QwikTip for Getting Along With Peers

And for those with a QwikCoach license, refresh your existing skills and acquire new skills by visiting the QwikTips library for leadership ideas and techniques.

If you don’t have QwikCoach, it’s an excellent resource for growing your leadership skills remotely that you should consider.

Learn More About QwikCoach

Help turn your leadership knowledge into leadership action! Start to trust your team and lead them.

Did You Know?

Graduates of PeopleTek’s Leadership Journey Earn:

  • IT Professionals: 19 priSM CPD credits
  • Human Resource SPHR/PHR/GPHR: 19 HR (General) credit hours
  • Project Managers: PMI – up to 37 hours / 3 PSM level points
  • Executive Coaches: 18 ICF CCE’s (Core Competencies) & 5 ICF CCE’s (Resource Development)

Additionally, the Journey is approved for PMI re-certification credits.