It's Not You, It's Me: Trust in Teamwork
If you don't trust your team, you should quit. Bold statement, right? But when it comes down to it, trust is the bedrock of any effective team. Without trust, team members are unlikely to open up and be vulnerable with each other. This vulnerability, along with a sense of belonging, forms the foundation of all teamwork. Without trust, you can't collaborate or communicate effectively. People hold back their concerns and questions, making it impossible for a team to fully benefit from each other's insights and perspectives.
The Absence of Trust
Reflecting on my own journey, I've been thinking a lot about trust and its absence. In a past role, I blamed individuals—my team, my leader—for the challenges we faced. But in reality, the root issue was my lack of trust. I didn't trust because, whether real or perceived, I received numerous signals that I didn't belong. Closed-door meetings, being told to figure things out on my own, and seeing vulnerability as a weakness—all these signs eroded my trust.
Have you ever felt like you couldn't trust your team? What were the signs?
Trust and Resilience
The tricky part is balancing resilience—pushing through setbacks—with knowing when to walk away. How do you really know if it's you or them? This is a question I've been wrestling with for years. Trust is earned through signals. When those signals are absent, how can you be sure whether to stay and work through issues or move on?
Signals of Distrust
When you don't see signals of trust, you start to question your place. Trust is built on clear, consistent communication and support. If these are missing, the foundation crumbles. Trust isn't about blind faith; it's about recognizing and responding to the signals that show whether you belong and can rely on your team.
Think about a time when you didn't feel trusted at work. What signals did you pick up on?
Practical Steps for Building Trust
So, what can you do to build or rebuild trust within your team?
Communicate Openly: Be transparent about decisions and changes. Let your team in on the process.
Support Vulnerability: Encourage team members to share their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
Show Consistency: Be reliable in your actions and follow through on promises.
Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for and provide constructive feedback to create a culture of continuous improvement.
The Bottom Line
Trust is not a given; it's a continuous process of earning and maintaining. Understanding the signals of trust can help you decide whether to stay and work through issues or move on to a place where you can truly belong.
Have you experienced challenges with trust in your team? What steps have you taken to build or rebuild that trust? We'd love to know - share your thoughts on trust in the workplace in the comments below.