Trust binds teams together. It is the foundation upon which teams achieve their goals, building success for the business. Without trust, individuals will go their own way, protecting themselves from risk and failing to share knowledge.
No matter how strong the individuals in your team, they will never reach their full capacity unless they work together, and this requires trust. This infographic offers some handy advice on building trust in teams.
When team members trust one another, they know that they can depend upon the others to do what is right. Unless you’ve built that trust, the team members will work to protect themselves rather than collaborating with others for the benefit of all.
Honest, open and frequent communication is the key to trust. How you speak to your team can determine how much they will trust you. Always be honest with them. Thank individuals for any special effort, and offer liberal praise when it is deserved. Offer credit where it’s due. No team will support your success if you take the credit for the efforts of others.
Empower your team to make decisions. Micro-management never worked for anyone. Above all, build relationships with and between the team members.
Research has proven that success depends on trust. It all starts with a trustworthy leader of high integrity, sharing, empowering, and communicating honestly with the other team members.