Building Trust for Success: Unlocking 5 Secrets to a High-Performing Team and Increased Revenue
My dad taught me how to swim. Mind you, this was the 80’s, so there wasn’t much that was overly gentle about the process, kind of like being dunked into the pool of leadership with not so much as a life raft to keep you afloat.
Our success in the pool hinged on one big factor: my trust. Did I trust my dad to protect and teach me more than I trusted a massive pool hell-bent on my destruction? (While you’re wondering, NO, I’ve never been accused of being dramatic.. but that’s not the point here.)
Trusting my dad to teach me to swim and keep me safe was sometimes difficult because there is no real way to be “sort-of-wet”. You’re either in the pool, kicking and paddling for life, or you aren’t trying. You can’t half-commit to holding your breath under water.
While we eventually mastered the process of my being his student and his being the teacher, there was a question that he used to ask me constantly: “Do you trust me?”. Yes, I did.
Did that mean I wasn’t afraid? No.
Did it mean I wasn’t capable despite my fear? No.
Even with the people closest to you, trust is something that is hard earned and lost easily.
Have you ever worked with someone you didn’t trust? Tasks seem to take longer, communication is infinitely more painful, you’re ALWAYS second guessing someone, either yourself or the other party, and work is just honestly NOT fun.
When you add trust to any work situation, it seems to act as a salve. People step into challenges, you accomplish more because feedback is seen as a gift instead of a call to arms, and you can ENJOY the work you’re doing instead of dreading it.
Simply put, trust is the foundation of any successful relationship, and it's no different in the workplace. When team members trust each other and their leaders, they are more engaged, productive, and committed to achieving shared goals.
Just like there is no real way to be “sort-of wet”, there is no real way to have “sort-of” trust. Either your team trusts you, or they do not. In my work with clients and colleagues, I’ve found that the 4 practices of Fostering Trust, Resolving Conflicts, Promoting Transparency, and Empowering Team Members leads to unlocking the secret to a high-performing team and increased revenue.
Foster Trust
My number one tip is to foster trust among your team. It’s like the foundation of a great team dynamic and culture. It’s the holding your breath underwater part of swimming, if you will. Trust is built over time through consistent actions and behaviors. As a leader, you can foster trust by:
Being honest and transparent about your intentions, decisions, and actions.
Keeping your promises and following through on commitments.
Being open to feedback and willing to admit mistakes.
Treating team members with respect, empathy, and kindness.
Encouraging collaboration, sharing credit, and celebrating successes together.
When team members trust each other and their leaders, they are more likely to take risks, share ideas, and support each other. This leads to better problem-solving, innovation, and customer satisfaction, which ultimately drives revenue growth.
Resolving Conflict
Now that your team enjoys mutual respect and trust, resolving conflicts becomes less daunting and more productive. Conflicts are inevitable in any team, but how you handle them can either break or build trust. As a leader, you can resolve conflicts by:
Listening actively to all parties involved and understanding their perspectives.
Acknowledging the emotions and concerns of each person and validating their feelings.
Identifying the root cause of the conflict and finding a mutually beneficial solution.
Communicating clearly and respectfully throughout the process.
Following up to ensure that the solution is working, and that trust has been restored.
When conflicts are resolved effectively, team members feel heard, respected, and valued. This strengthens relationships and trust between team members and leaders, which leads to a more cohesive and high-performing team.
Promoting Transparency
Once your team has trust in your dynamics and knows that they don’t have to dread unproductive, damaging conflict, it’s important for leaders to show vulnerability through promoting transparency. Consider this next step like starting to swim in the deep end once you’ve learned how to swim and feel more comfortable. As a leader, you can promote transparency by:
Communicating openly and honestly about the organization's goals, strategies, and challenges.
Sharing information and data that are relevant to team members' roles and responsibilities.
Encouraging team members to ask questions, share feedback, and voice concerns.
Being transparent about decision-making processes and criteria.
Holding yourself and others accountable for delivering results and maintaining high standards.
When team members have access to information and understand the rationale behind decisions, they are more likely to trust their leaders and feel empowered to contribute to the organization's success.
Empower Your Team!
It’s time for swim team, y’all! The whole enchilada culminates with empowering your team members. Practically, this looks like giving your team members the autonomy, resources, and support they need to perform their roles effectively and grow professionally.
This is the part of your team ecosystem where you start to identify potential leaders within your organization and give additional responsibility as necessary. As a leader, you can empower team members by:
Clarifying expectations and goals and providing regular feedback and coaching.
Delegating responsibilities and decision-making authority based on team members' strengths and interests.
Providing access to training, development, and career opportunities.
Encouraging risk-taking and innovation and celebrating learning and growth.
Recognizing and rewarding team members' contributions and achievements.
As any advanced swimmer will tell you, as soon as you stop swimming, you start to sink. (Unless you have abs of steel, which is really an entirely different conversation altogether…)
In the same vein, building trust is not a one-time event. It is a continuous process that requires intentional actions and behaviors. By fostering trust, resolving conflicts, promoting transparency, and empowering team members, you can unlock the secret to a high-performing team and increased revenue. As always, remember to listen, communicate, and lead by example, and celebrate the successes and learning along the way.
Or, as an old friend used to say, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!”