Trust is the heart of team performance, period. This is simply the way human systems work. We humans are NOT machines. We are logical and emotional. AND, every decision to ACT is largely an emotional event though we try to convince ourselves of the contrary. It simply isn’t so.
No matter how hard we try to be rational we are NOT. We are rationalizing. There is a HUGE difference between the two.
At BUILT TO LEAD we’ve tried to break the word trust down into some rational elements to make it easier for our clients to understand what it is and also what it is not.
Trust is personal. The first hurdle we must clear, as leaders, is the ability to trust ourselves. Many NEVER come clean here. Many leaders try to “run around” this one and simply focus their time and energy on the other elements of trust. Bad idea. When you don’t trust you, how can you really trust others? How can they trust you? Personal trust takes time. Your time building you. Personal trust starts with designing and building your own CORE. This is REAL, HARD, WORK. Please do NOT try to skip this step.
Trust is also about integrity. Ethical trust is the ability of the team to trust us at our word. None of us has a perfect “ethic” soooooo a big part of our integrity is around how we “come clean.” We all have integrity gaps. The leaders we trust are working on closing theirs and are not tolerant of team members who are not. Again, this is some rare air. As leaders we consistently “think” we’re better here then does the team. Can we both be right?
Moving on.
This is where a whole lot of “rationalizing” takes place. “I’m not really lying, I’m simply being smart about how I speak.” “Our top performer is not harassing another associate, he’s simply ‘out of line’ today.” “We don’t need to address this issue today…we will once the economy cuts us a break.” Sure we will.
Tomorrow is decision day and that day is always one away.
Trust is also situational but not in the sense that so many think. Situational trust has nothing to do with what we say or do dependent on the situation we’re in. It is NOT situational ethics. Far from it…
Situational trust is how well we understand our team and the situation that they are in. A leader with deep situational trust understands exactly what he or she is asking the team to perform and what hinders/enables this performance. This leader stretches the team to their limit but not beyond. This is a rare leader. This is very cool.
Trust is also strategic and, at it’s zenith, the catalyst for team chemistry. Magic. We’ll cover this ground tomorrow.
Today, I met with one of my clients and uncovered some serious trust issues. We both felt like we went in reverse today. We did. We did not have a choice. This is simply the way it works.
He had rationalized his way into believing that he did not have a trust issue. He was working on fixing the problem without dealing with the source. This, my friends, is irrational. You and I both know this. AND, you and I both do the same thing.
What are your trust issues?
Are you at the source or on the surface?
Where are you rationalizing your way to mediocrity?
Do you see it?
Does your team?
When was the last time you asked your truth tellers to help illuminate your blind spots?
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 