How does team trust affect performance?

2 Why is team trust important for performance?

Team trust has a positive impact on performance in several ways. First, it enhances communication within the team. When team members trust each other, they communicate more openly, clearly, and frequently. They also listen more attentively, empathetically, and constructively. This improves the quality and quantity of information exchange, which leads to better decision making, problem solving, and innovation. Second, team trust fosters collaboration among team members. When team members trust each other, they cooperate more effectively, share more resources, and coordinate more efficiently. They also support each other's goals, roles, and responsibilities. This increases the productivity and quality of the team's output. Third, team trust facilitates conflict resolution within the team. When team members trust each other, they handle conflicts more constructively, respectfully, and creatively. They also avoid unnecessary or destructive conflicts that can harm the team's morale, cohesion, and performance.

4 How can you build team trust?

Building team trust requires consistent and intentional actions from you as a supervisor and from your team members. To cultivate trust, it is important to set clear and realistic expectations and goals for the team and each team member, provide regular and constructive feedback, and facilitate open communication among team members. Additionally, creating a safe and respectful environment, modeling positive behavior, involving and empowering team members in decision making, celebrating successes, and addressing conflicts promptly are all effective strategies for building trust.

5 How can you maintain team trust?

Maintaining team trust requires ongoing and proactive efforts from supervisors and team members alike. To ensure trust is maintained, it is important to monitor and evaluate the team's performance regularly, provide and solicit feedback, acknowledge and address any challenges or changes, reinforce and remind the team of its vision, values, and goals, support and assist members who may need help or guidance, appreciate and respect the diversity of each member, and apologize and forgive when mistakes or misunderstandings occur.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?