Wins and Winners rise with Trust

There can be no wins or winners if there is no trust in a team or a organization. And trust takes time to build. A new manager takes time in being accepted into a team and be accepted as a leader. Before he gets there he is tested on touchstone of trust, apart from several other challenges that he or she must help the team steer through.

A new team member before being entrusted with core responsibilities usually has to bounce through small hurdles where he or she is tested before a manager or teams can “trust” them with core or critical responsibilities.

It’s a delicate balance of trust on which teams thrive on, competitive teams quickly build among themselves, and weak teams struggle with. Its also that delicate thread which gets broken very easily and can set one back from success.

An employee losing trust of one’s manager may mean loss of a promotion , reduction in responsibilities or being limited in their span of control. A leader losing trust of their team would lead to slower outcomes, attrition and potential dilution of goals.

Yet we seldom address or talk of trust, while addressing any performance challenge. It gets missed or understated in discussions which get more focused on skills or goals, without reflecting on why did the problem arise in the first place, assuming capabilities were also not an issue.

Trust is built when certain behaviors are consistently demonstrated while working towards common goals. Some of these behaviors or building blocks of trust are

1.       Reliability and dependability: Following through on a promise, and being known for being dependable and reliable. No one will trust a boss who doesn’t follow through on his or her word, or is unable to chart out a clear course for the team.

2.       Ownership and Fairness : Misses are normal part of life and work. Taking them in stride, and fixing them vs. an employee blaming the manager or the manager finding a scapegoat is what builds a trusting environment. A mistake has happened. Own it, fix it and move on, and one will find the working environment evolve to a more positive one.

3.       Transparency: Communicating tough news, and finding solutions together, vs. covering up goes  a long way in building trust. There might be some short term unpleasantness while people learn to face reality, however this paves way to stronger relationships

4.       Empathy or Care: After a tough assignment or a tough talk, take the time out to cement bonds and show each other, that you are human, and you care.

There is rarely a lone road to the summit, most people need someone to hold the ladder or throw in a rope to help them climb up, and it helps to have people around you, or up there you trust, and who trust you.

So, before you get going on  your goal, look around to see if you are building trust with people who matter.

Keep winning.