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So it's
vital to counteract this dysfunction - to turn it around, to
restore trust, to grow trust on your team, and in your
organization. It can be done - it's been done - and
you can do it.
Start with
a look in the mirror. By now you've probably figured out that you can't
change other people's behavior on your team. The only person
you can really influence is yourself - and your own reactions to
other team members. A few ways to make yourself
more worthy of trust:
1.
Be consistent. Say
what you mean, and make sure your actions follow your words.
2. Be direct. If you're having a
problem with someone, talk with them about it - don't triangulate
or discuss the problem with other people.
3. Be willing to be wrong. And when you're wrong, admit
it. And apologize.
Next, help
the team define their trust issues, and get to the root of what's
going on.
Team members
may have different ideas of why trust is absent, such as:
- I don't trust that
some people have the skills, experience or capability to
do what we need
- I don't trust that
so-and-so is reliable - they say they will deliver, but in the
past have not
- I don't trust that
I can challenge or push-back on this team without repercussions
- I don't trust the
Team Leader's intentions
- I don't trust other
people's hidden agendas
- Etc., etc.
The reasons people don't trust are varied, yet when
you dig down a bit, it's likely themes around trust will emerge -
themes that you can explore more deeply and take action
on.
Help the
team determine the root cause by continually asking
"why". This technique helps you get past the symptoms of
a problem, and find out what's really going on. Simply keep
asking the question "why" to peel away the layers of
the trust issue.
- Why do we feel we can't challenge or push
back? "Because
of xyz"
- And why is that? "Because of
abc"
- Keep asking why
until you get to the bottom of it.
Then ask
"what can and will we do
about that?" Talking about trust and deciding to trust
are two different things.
If you have
an internal facilitator to work with you on this,
outstanding. If not, my best advice is to seek outside
help. An unbiased facilitator can help your team sort out
issues of trust, deeply explore barriers to trust, work with the
team to build actions within
their span of control - they'll walk away with
strategies that will begin to build, or restore team trust. Call me! I've
worked with teams where lack of trust was a barrier they couldn't
see around - until we explored the root of the issues, cleared the
way, and started new and more productive behaviors that moved them
in a better direction.
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