Utena Dauniškis Gymnasium
COMENIUS Multilateral Partnership
2013 – 2015
Training for LIFE: Leadership Initiatives For Europe
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUST
WITHIN A TEAM
27-31/05/2015
By Milda Musteikyte
Successful teamwork is built on a foundation of trust. Each
member of the team must establish trust, cultivate trust through
his actions and words, and work to maintain it. Each member also
needs to be able to trust his team members to make a
commitment to the team and its goals, work competently with
those goals in mind, and communicate consistently about any
issues that affect the team. Here are some of the basics on trust
within a team.
Commitment
Commitment is an important part of trust. Every
team member must commit to helping teammates
meet the goals of the team, no matter if personal or
professional obstacles present themselves. Team
members must be able to rely on one another to do
their part of the team's work without fail.
Competence
Team members must trust that their teammates are
competent and can successfully complete the tasks relevant
to the team's success. For example, each team member should
be able to focus on an assigned task without worrying about
teammates following through with their assigned tasks. When
team members show vulnerability to their teammates and the
teammates respond in an efficient and helpful manner, trust
will grow between them.
Communication
Consistent and meaningful communication is necessary for a
trusting relationship within a team. For instance, if a team
member finishes a task early, he should communicate to his
teammates that he is finished and ask if he can help another
team member with her part of the work. Team members who
receive communication from other team members should
always respond to confirm that they have received the
information to build trust.
Collaboration
True collaboration won't happen without a sense of trust between team
members. When team members collaborate, they share creative ideas
without fear that another team member will take credit for their ideas. A
team member who feels he/she is in a trusting team environment may be
more willing to bring up concerns that are relevant to the team's goals or
its members. A collaborative and trusting team environment allows team
members to share personal information and develop a stronger bond with
their teammates.
So, trust is an essential element in team productivity. Without
it,you are unlikely to get anything meaningful done. But with
it, team can accomplish everything they set out to do and
more.