How do you build trust with your team?

💯 To build trust, you need need 3 things: time, positive intent, and credibility. ➡️ Be authentic. Be real, be vulnerable. When you do so you become credible. ➡️ Provide your team the psychological safety to bring their authentic self to work. Be curious about their lived experiences and point of view. That shows positive intent. ➡️ Give time for the trust to build

The foundation of trust is psychological safety, as Amy Edmondson reminds us, which is the idea that you won't be punished or ridiculed for speaking up about ideas, questions, mistakes, or concerns. To build that trust, you must create an environment as a leader where it is safe for others to contribute a conflicting point of view, question a strategy or directive, or take the risks that are necessary to drive innovation that the future of work depends on.

From my perspective, Effective and frequent communication is paramount to building trust with your team. From my experience, using clear, concise, and respectful language while actively listening and empathizing creates an environment of understanding and support. By providing regular updates, recognition, and guidance, and fostering open and constructive dialogue, you demonstrate genuine care for your team, understand their needs, and encourage their growth, leading to a strong foundation of trust and collaboration.

To truly enhance trust within your team, go beyond just effective and frequent communication by nurturing a culture of feedback and appreciation. Create an environment where giving and receiving feedback is seen as a constructive and valuable process. Encourage team members to express their thoughts openly, knowing that their opinions are heard and respected. Additionally, remember to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of your team regularly. Celebrate achievements, big and small, and recognize the hard work and dedication of each individual. When feedback is seen as a tool for growth and appreciation becomes a norm, your team will feel valued and motivated, leading to stronger bonds.

The purpose of each layer of management is to take as much work away from the layer above as possible and to bring specific skills not currently present, therefore a leaders JOB is to effectively delegate as much as is possible, as far down as is possible. Part of how you do that is create really clear boundaries and clarity around the expectations and what good looks like and then.......let them get on with it. You absolutely do need to ensure you have the right governance in place to monitor performance - if you have that in place you can absolutely leave them with lots of freedom to act - and if you put your trust in them to do so, they will pick up on that.

Empowerment includes providing the necessary tools, resources, and support for team members to perform their jobs effectively. Delegation shows your trust in their abilities and judgment. It gives them autonomy and helps them build their skills and confidence. Make sure the tasks assigned match their skills and growth objectives. Provide constructive feedback and acknowledge their accomplishments. Empowering and delegating increases job satisfaction and performance and builds a strong foundation of trust.

Here are some questions to ask in your next 1:1s with your team to encourage them to open up: "How are you feeling about XYZ upcoming project?" "What's your biggest concern right now?" "Where are you blocked?" "What problems can I help you solve?" And role-model it back. Answer these questions yourself to them for what you are working on at the time. You can change the tenor of the conversation pretty quickly

We truly must show empathy because this fosters connection with our team. It is also how we demonstrate the human-centered aspects of what it means to be a leader. It is an awesome responsibility but only when we do it right.

The 5 Pillars of Trust: 1. Transparency - Requires Courage 2. Vulnerability - Requires Courage 3. Consistency - Requires Optimism and Patience 4. Reliability - Requires Optimism and Patience 5. Empathy - Requires Empathy

Trust is earned, not given. And you earn it by leading by example and with integrity. Your actions need to match your words. You can't expect your team to work hard if you're not willing to get your hands dirty. Integrity means being consistent. It means being true to your values, no matter what. It means standing firm, even when the storm rages. When you lead with integrity, your team knows what to expect. They know you won't compromise your values, and they'll trust you for it. Be willing to do what you ask your team to do!

These two are important elements of a positive employee experience. I’d ask my team at the end of the week what we are collectively celebrating, and this can be a personal accomplishment, positive client feedback or a successful team project completion. I’d also make time for quarterly learning lessons where the entire team gets together and we either host external speakers or teach each other a combination of technical and business skills. It’s difficult to make time for learning so I am intentional about having it on the calendar.

📣Have a celebration plan in place! Learn to celebrate 🎉 each milestone in real time! Continue to communicate daily where the team is going and what it will look like when they arrive! When challenges occur, ask them to brainstorm how we can improve together! Ask each team member where they would like to have #impact and where they need #support! Celebrating 🥳 and asking thought provoking questions will accelerate your results over time! 🥳 #LeadLoudly #teambuilding #leadership #vision #mindset

There are many ways to say, “we’ve got your back”. “We believe in you.” “We’re sending positive thoughts your way.” “We’re in this together.” The important thing is to say it and mean it. When people feel confident, they tend to perform at their best. And great leaders help the people around them to feel positive and confident

Thanks Bahar! T = f (I, R, C,), wherein T, trust, I, integrity, R, reliability, and, C, competence. And 2 out of 3 won't work. Bill