(and what to do differently)
When I coach leaders and leadership teams, I observe three things that break trust. And usually, people do these things without even realizing how harmful it is to their teams, their organization’s culture, and their results.
#1 Gossip
My definition of gossip is a little different than most people’s. It has three determining factors, and the third one always catches people off guard. You can identify gossip by the following questions…
- Does it (whatever is being said) build up the other person’s character?
- Would you say it if the person were standing beside you?
- Would you say it IN THE SAME TONE if s/he were standing beside you?
Gossip is one of the quickest ways to break trust and poison team culture. For a team to thrive, gossip must be eliminated.
#2 Disrespect or public embarrassment
It isn’t uncommon that the quietest person in the room may have the best idea—and they would gladly share if they didn’t have to ‘fight to get a word in’ during meetings.
When disrespect or public embarrassment happens in a team, it creates an unsafe environment for sharing ideas. People aren’t able to bring the best version of themselves to work, and their focus is more on self-preservation not on openness, creativity or innovation.
#3 Breaking agreements
When people don’t keep their word, whether their commitments are implicit or explicit, it gives those around them—their managers, peers, and team—the impression that they can’t be trusted or depended upon.
Consistency, reliability, and a willingness to “practice what we preach,” are all important when it comes to building trust and teamwork.
The reality is, as long as we live in skin, we will always have areas for growth.
None of us is perfect, but the best leaders are intentional about protecting trust and fostering teamwork.
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