Building Trust: Become A Culture Hero

How do we build trust in a team environment?

First, start with respect. Building trust is hard when we do not respect one another.

Agree to disagree when you don’t see eye to eye, but ALWAYS respect the other person and their opinion, even when you disagree. Debate the problem/idea, NOT the individual.

Clear and direct communication, devoid of political maneuvering, is a non-negotiable. Express your thoughts clearly, back them up with data and examples, and be open to changing your stance. Remember, the goal is not to be right, but to build the right products for our users and business in a team environment.

If you’ve successfully achieved the first two tasks, you should be able to have constructive conflict that leads to disagreeing, committing, and fully aligned decisions, and then give them 100% effort.

Following up on decisions and promises is crucial. When you fall short, it’s important to acknowledge it. This accountability is a key component in building trust in a team environment.

Finally, before you can build trust, the team environment needs to be highly psychologically safe.

Trust can’t be built in its absence.

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👉 Diego Schmunis for more insightful content