Commitment of Trust: A Matter of Show and Tell
Imagine being the vehicle passenger driving off-road in the back country of Colorado. The scenery is gorgeous. It’s just you, your teammate driving, the mountains, the sunshine and….. the cliff you are about to roll off. Wait? What? That’s right, on this narrow gravel road, heading uphill there’s nothing between you and a 1,000-foot drop. Terrifying right? Maybe not. You’re in a highly adapted off-road vehicle, with an experienced driver. You, as the co-pilot or teammate, helped prepare. You’ve aided in safety checks ahead of the trip. You committed your support to this plan.
Your role, at this point, is to simply trust.
Maybe you have not had to trust in such death-defying circumstances, but the point remains the same, as teammates, co-workers or leaders, are we following through on our commitment of trust? In defining trust, it can be said it is belief in the ability or reliability of another. Our trust has been tested recently with world events, often leaving to us wonder who we can trust. In the workplace, we don’t even see each other as we once did so we might have to rely on trust differently.
It’s no secret that trust in the workplace and among team members increases employee engagement, reduces turnover and can even improve productivity. While there is a lot of research around trust, there are a couple of fundamentals at the foundation of trust.
Two simple ways to build a commitment of trust with your teammate. It’s as easy as show and tell.
Model trust behavior. In other words, show your trust. The first way to show your trust is to simply listen. When people feel they are really being heard, barriers fall and trust builds. Along with listening, let it go. Your teammate has a role and a contribution to make. Show trust by allowing them to be successful in their part of the team. Let them feel fully empowered from your trust. Lastly, show trust by showing appreciation. This can be small things, like thank you notes, or big things like broadcasting recognition. Listening, empowerment and appreciation go a long way in showing trust.
Use the language of trust, meaning “talk the talk.” It’s not only what you say, but how you say it. Speak with sincerity when talking to or about your teammate. Within that sincerity, heap praise where it is due. Avoid accusatory phrases such as, “you didn’t” or “why did you?” Do use positive reinforcing language such as, “yes”, “I’d be happy to,” or inclusive phrases such as, “what do you think?” or “I’d value your opinion.” Simple shifts in how we talk through, sincerity, giving high praise when earned and changing up our phrasing, all are tools to build trust.
Back to the mountain top. In this situation, trust was modeled through letting go, empowering and allowing the driver to perform his role, safely ascending up the hill. Trust was spoken through sincere praise for driving skills and appreciation for, not the danger, but the beauty of the situation presented. Once at the top we marveled at the accomplishment of our team of two, with trust firmly grounded.
