In Patrick Lencioni's "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team," trust emerges as the cornerstone of a successful team dynamic. 

Lencioni defines trust as the confidence team members have in each other's intentions, where there's no need for caution or defensiveness within the group. 

Put simply, trust is gained when promises are kept and eroded when they're broken. 

Consider this scenario: if a friend pledges to join you for a run every Thursday at 2 pm but fails to show up for three consecutive weeks, would you trust them on the fourth week? 

Beyond trusting others, there's a deeper layer of trust – the trust we have in ourselves. 

In the past, I found myself making commitments to myself, like committing to daily runs, only to fall short. Unknowingly, by not honouring these commitments, I betrayed my own trust, leading to a gradual loss of faith in myself. 

My coach helped me realize that to build self-trust, I needed to uphold my promises to both others and myself. Integrity, he emphasized, was paramount. 

The simplest way to foster trust is to make fewer promises to both others and yourself, and when you do commit, ensure you follow through. 

Here are the 11 traits to build trust: - 

Talk Straight: This principle emphasises the importance of honest and transparent communication. It involves being direct, clear, and truthful in your interactions without sugar-coating or misleading others. 

Demonstrate Respect: This involves treating others with dignity, courtesy, and consideration. It means acknowledging the worth and opinions of others, regardless of differences, and avoiding behaviours that belittle or disrespect them. 

Right Wrong: Acknowledging mistakes and taking responsibility for them is crucial. This principle encourages individuals to correct errors, learn from them, and make amends when necessary, fostering a culture of integrity and continuous improvement. 

Show Loyalty: Loyalty entails standing by colleagues, teams, and the organization, especially in challenging times. It involves supporting others, defending their interests, and maintaining confidentiality when required. 

Deliver Results: This principle emphasizes the importance of achieving goals and producing tangible outcomes. It involves setting clear objectives, prioritising tasks, and executing plans effectively to meet or exceed expectations. 

Get Better: Continuous learning and self-improvement are essential for personal and professional growth. This principle encourages individuals to seek feedback, learn from experiences, and actively pursue opportunities for development. 

Confront Reality: Facing challenges and difficult situations head-on is crucial for progress. This principle encourages individuals to confront problems honestly, assess situations realistically, and take appropriate action to address issues. 

Clarify Expectations: Clear communication of roles, responsibilities, and expectations is essential for teamwork and productivity. This principle emphasises the importance of ensuring mutual understanding and alignment to avoid misunderstandings or conflicts. 

Practice Accountability: Taking ownership of one's actions, decisions, and outcomes is fundamental. This principle involves holding oneself and others answerable for commitments, results, and consequences, fostering a culture of responsibility and trust. 

Listen First: Effective communication involves actively listening to others before responding. This principle emphasizes the importance of understanding others' perspectives, concerns, and needs before expressing one's own thoughts or opinions. 

Keep Commitments: Probably the main one if you ask me.   

Summary: These principles collectively form a framework for ethical and effective behaviour in personal and professional settings. They promote honesty, respect, responsibility, accountability, and continuous improvement, fostering trust, collaboration, and success. 
 

Have a great day, 
 

Andrew Roberts and the Farm Owners Academy Team 

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