Unfortunately, trust can be knocked down in a blink of an eye. Failing to tell the truth (lying) is probably the fastest way to destroy trust. Criticizing in public is another way to lose the trust of your team. There are more, but let’s keep the focus on the positive.

I tried to find a good article or book on trust.[1] But I felt that each one I read missed some important things. So I wrote my own list, below. There was a video by a retired UM Ross Business School Professor that Shirley sent me that I really like. So watch this one and tell me what your takeaways and questions are: https://robertequinn.com/online-learning/

To start a discussion, here is my list of a dozen things that build trust in a team. What resonates?

1. Have a vision that people understand, buy into and are excited about
2. Give people the benefit of the doubt; mistakes don’t necessarily mean bad intentions; they may be learning opportunities
3. Accept failure; if you don’t have it you’re not experimenting enough
4. When you know better, let people do it; coaching them and give them feedback, but they own it
5. Have peoples back; defend them and keep the wolves at bay
6. Show integrity transparently; say what you’re thinking, what you’re going to do, and then do it
7. Show up; be an audience for your team
8. Play to strengths, not weaknesses; building on strengths bears more fruit than (trying to) correcting people
9. Listen and learn about your people’s dreams, family’s and context (you know this about your best customers, yes?)
10. Service in, service out (see #9)
11. Praise in public; critique In private; find ways for a person who screwed up to save face.
12. Be vulnerable and be willing to change