Trust is never automatic. It only happens when people assume accountability for everything in the service/value chain, meaning everyone in that team needs to be aligned and committed.
In coaching and teaching good leadership, it is important to note that trust between people is an outcome of how people feel treated. It’s the result of a sequence of three crucial principles that can be measured, trained, and perfected:
- First, sincerity. Team members measure sincerity when they ask: Do I believe these people have my best interest in mind? Establishing sincerity as the foundation of trust is no easy feat.
- Second, effectiveness. The core of effectiveness is competence, which team members assess when they ask: Do I believe we can do what we say can, in the time frame we have promised?
- Third, reliability. If team members believe their team is 1) sincere and 2) effective, trust hangs on reliability. They gauge reliability when they ask: Do I believe these people will be there for me when I need them?
To continue building trust within your team, Engage them in a discussion of these three questions:
- How are we measuring—and improving—our sincerity?
- How are we measuring—and improving—our effectiveness?
- How are we measuring—and improving—our reliability?
If your team is struggling to build trust, especially in this virtual environment, Good Leadership is here to help. Email us to get started.