The Science and Art of High Trust, High Results Teams
The Science
1. Interview leader and define the objectives.
2. Interview team members, get feedback and explain the process.
3. Create a plan that includes both how the team will interact among themselves and with others, and clearly identify objectives to be achieved.
4. Establish and implement accountability and follow up meetings.
5. Develop skills in area of teambuilding, communication, conflict and creativity.
The Art
1. Create safety and allow vulnerability. This is about allowing people to tell the truth by creating opportunities for them to have the real conversations. As corporate poet David Whyte says, "there are no real conversations without vulnerability." Trust has the element of vulnerability in it. When I'm working with an individual, team or organization I use topics, symbols and creative experiences to let people really hear each other. When they do they are often amazed at how similar we all are and this leads to increased trust, appreciation and respect.
2. Inspire them to belong. Above taking ownership is belonging. When there is a sense of belonging to a vision and values actions become inner directed and there is greater enthusiasm, productivity and higher morale among individuals. Is your vision and values meaningful to your company? Do they speak not only to objectives but to the hearts of those in your business and your clients? Are you living from your values? How many do you have? Once in speaking with a business owner he mentioned he had 25 values listed...How does an individual discern with so many values to choose from? I refer constantly back to the vision and the values to remind the team of where they are going and how they are getting there.
3. Interdependence. One of the greatest skills individuals can have is to learn how to be interdependent. It requires skillfulness and an understanding that more can be accomplished when we work together than as individuals. Interdependence is a high level of functioning and it takes willingness, humility, curiosity and commitment on the part of individuals. I know that to have the highest functioning teams, helping people to develop skills that lead towards interdependence is time well spent. It speeds up the process of problem solving and builds efficient teams.
