Trust is an important aspect of every team. Here at J.W. Business Acquisitions we believe that it’s the responsibility of the leader to earn trust and keep it. Here we have a blog written by Director of Recruiting and Development, Meghan, defining what trust is how to build it within a team!
What is Trust?
Trust is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”
Think about that for a second… let it sink in. Take driving for example. You’re on the highway with a thousand other cars. They’re racing past you, you’re racing past them. You’re trusting them and they’re trusting you to make good decisions – to not slam on the brakes and force you to crash into them or to not rapidly change lanes and cut you off so you swerve into the car next to you. That is utter and complete reliance on the ability of the OTHER person to do what they’re supposed to do. You rely on people to do the right thing. You believe in their strength to the extent that you’re able to put yourself out there on the line, with the potential of risk to yourself.
Why is Trust Important?
Trust is essential to building an effective and strong team because it provides a safety net.
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Trust is essential to building an effective and strong team because it provides a safety net. When you feel safe and valued you feel comfortable enough to share your opinions and express your ideas. You’re able to take more risks and express new ideas or thoughts you’re unsure about than you would if you DIDN’T feel safe. Without that trust there is no innovation or team collaboration. People will spend their time worrying about what others think or whether or not what they’re saying is right or wrong. When, in a trusting environment, that time could be used to create, build, and grow.
How do we Build Trust?
- Lead by Example
Don’t expect people to do things you wouldn’t do. Set the Standard and Perform. Keep in mind that your team members are always watching and taking notes from you. Take that opportunity to show them how it’s done Every. Single. Day. Show them what real trust looks like.
- Get to Know Your Team Members Personally
Connect with your coworkers, share personal stories, get to know their hobbies and what they enjoy. Start by sharing something of your own and then let the conversation flow. Be careful not to pry. People trust people that they know so get to know your team and let them get to know you.
- Don’t Look Down on People
We’ve all been in that situation with a friend or a coworker who acts like a completely different person based on the social groups setting… plain and simple: don’t be that person.
Make sure your behavior matches who you are and what you believe in.
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Looking down on others will get you nowhere and has the ability to crumble trust in an instant.
- Don’t Play the Blame Game
Naturally in all environments, personal and professional, mistakes are going to be made. Don’t play the blame game. It’s easy to point fingers to get the pressure off your back, but what that does is create an unpleasant environment where people feel judged. Encourage people to be solution oriented. Where did we go wrong? What could we have done better? How can we be proactive in making sure this mistake doesn’t happen again?
- Make Your Team Members Look Good
Typically, in order to obtain a position of leadership, you’ve shown in some way that you’re able to perform at a high level. While it’s great to share personal wins with your team, it’s important to showcase their wins and their achievements MORE than you do your own. You want people to feel proud of themselves and valued. You don’t want your people to feel like they’re always just trying to measure up to you. The more you can do that for your team the more they’ll trust you and in turn will achieve higher levels of performance.
Meet the J.W.B.A. team by clicking here!
Trust is essential to building strong productive teams. Without it, you’re unlikely to get very far, but with it you can accomplish anything. So set the example, create great relationships, build your team up, and show them what real trust looks like.