How Leaders Build Trust In Teams

Summary

In this video, organizational psychologist David Burkus explains how leaders can build trust within their teams. He emphasizes the importance of trust for effective communication, collaboration, and performance. Burkus outlines four key strategies: being vulnerable as a leader, communicating the intent behind your actions, entrusting employees with the 'how' of their tasks, and delegating decision-making to the team. By fostering a cycle of trust, leaders can enhance oxytocin levels and strengthen relationships, ultimately creating a more effective and cohesive team environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Trust is a key element for effective teamwork and leadership, enhancing communication, collaboration, and performance.
• 😀 Trust is not just given or earned; it is reciprocated. When you trust others, they are more likely to trust you back.
• 😀 Oxytocin, a hormone in the bloodstream, is the chemical that governs trust between individuals and can be measured.
• 😀 As a leader, you must initiate the trust cycle by demonstrating trust first to inspire trust in return.
• 😀 Being vulnerable as a leader helps create openness and encourages others to share their challenges, promoting better teamwork.
• 😀 Communicating your intent behind decisions and actions prevents misunderstandings and creates alignment within the team.
• 😀 When assigning tasks, focus on the 'what' but leave the 'how' to your team members, showing trust in their abilities.
• 😀 Micromanaging erodes trust; trust your team to execute tasks in their own way, unless performance issues arise.
• 😀 Delegating decision-making to the whole team fosters a collaborative environment, reinforcing trust and inclusion.
• 😀 Building trust is a continuous process and requires consistent vulnerability, communication, and delegation over time.
• 😀 Implementing the four trust-building strategies—vulnerability, communication of intent, empowering with autonomy, and delegation—creates a virtuous cycle of trust, boosting overall team morale and performance.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this video?

The video focuses on how leaders can build trust within their teams and foster a culture of trust to improve team performance.

Why is trust important for a team and company culture?

Trust is critical because it enhances communication, collaboration, and shared identity, which collectively drive better performance in teams and organizations.

How can trust be measured according to the speaker?

Trust can be measured through the levels of oxytocin in the bloodstream, which is a hormone that increases when trust is given or received, influencing trustworthiness.

What role does oxytocin play in trust?

Oxytocin is the chemical that determines whether someone feels trusted and whether they are likely to trust others in return. High oxytocin levels encourage a reciprocal cycle of trust.

What does the speaker mean when they say trust is reciprocated?

Trust is a reciprocal process, meaning that when you trust someone, they feel trusted and are more likely to trust you back, creating a continuous cycle of trust.

What is the first way to build trust as a leader?

The first way to build trust is to be vulnerable as a leader, by sharing your setbacks, failures, and moments of confusion, which encourages your team to do the same.

How does vulnerability help build trust within a team?

Vulnerability fosters open communication and helps team members connect on a deeper level, reducing barriers and promoting collaboration by allowing everyone to play to each other's strengths.

What is the second way to build trust on a team?

The second way is to communicate the intent behind your actions. By explaining the reasons behind decisions and assignments, you align your team's understanding and reduce misinterpretations.

Why is it important to communicate the 'how' to your team?

It's important to communicate the 'what' but leave the 'how' to the team because micromanaging erodes trust. Trusting your team to figure out the best approach empowers them and boosts their confidence.

What is the fourth tip for building trust?

The fourth tip is to delegate decision-making to the entire team, making them feel included and trusted in the process. This collaborative approach strengthens the bond of trust between you and your team.

How can delegation of decision-making contribute to trust?

Delegating decision-making shows that you trust the team's judgment, which reinforces their sense of ownership and responsibility, thus increasing mutual trust and collaboration.

What is the overarching strategy for building trust in a team?

The overarching strategy is to build a continuous cycle of trust through vulnerability, clear communication of intent, trusting team members with their work, and eventually involving the team in decision-making, creating a virtuous cycle of trust.