Definition of Trust

In the November issue of this Newsletter I talked about the main ingredients in good decision-making within a team.

In this issue I will talk about the definition of 'trust' within a team.

Please note – this definition of trust has nothing to do with the 'Royal Academy of the English Language' definition.

On the contrary – this definition of trust has everything to do with organizational effectiveness.

You see - I don't care about 'right' definitions.

What I care about is results - the kind of results that you want your team to achieve.

This definition of trust is from "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA., 2002)

Trust is when you know that the intentions of all your team members are good.

Trust is when you know that you don't need to protect yourself when you are in your team.

Trust is when you know that your team members won't ever use your own vulnerability against yourself.

Trust is when you speak up your mind with 100 per cent candor - knowing that such openness is for the good of everybody in your team.

In other words - without trust - it is unlikely that everybody in your team consistently speaks up their minds with 100 per cent openness.

Remember …

No trust, no candor - no candor, no 100% information - no 100% information, no best possible decision. It's that simple.

I repeat this sequence …

No trust, no candor - no candor, no 100% information - no 100% information, no best possible decision.

Knowing this sequence is critical to the success of your team.

If you want to build a high performance team - write this sequence on your forehead.

The only remaining question is this:

How do you build trust - this type of trust - within the team you lead, in order to help your team consistently make the best possible decisions?

You will find the answer to this question in the upcoming "Leader Newsletters" issues.

Questions? Feedback? Reply to this Newsletter and tell me what you would like future issues to be about.

Feel free to re-send this "Leader Newsletter" to your colleagues.

Most recent 12 "Leader Newsletter" issues:

Decision Making Effectiveness
Team Building Unknown Principle
Productive meetings Vs. Time wasters
Be a top notch Communicator
Be Persuasive in 60 Seconds or Less
Feedback Culture
Inter-Departmental Problems
Delegation
Real Customer Service
Which Team Has Precedence?
Formality is like Cancer
Overcoming resistance to change