The Crucial Role of Trust in Municipal Teams
In the context of municipal management, the significance of trust within teams is often underestimated. However, as an experienced educator, I have noticed the immense impact trust can have on the efficiency and productivity of our municipal teams1. Trust is not just a vague idea but a foundational element of successful teams.
It's important to remember that trust isn't a given within a group. It must be cultivated and nurtured. Building trust can be a challenging task, particularly when team members are hesitant to be open or contribute. As organizational psychologist Adam Grant accurately states, "Trust is not a matter of technique, tricks, or tools but of character"2. It is our responsibility as leaders to foster a culture of trust within our teams.
Building Trust: The Trust Coaching Cycle
The 'Trust Coaching Cycle' offers a systematic approach to building trust within teams. This cycle comprises five key steps: diagnosing the current level of trust, setting trust-building goals, formulating an action plan, gathering data, providing feedback, and monitoring and adjusting the process3.
Diagnosing Trust Levels
The first step is to assess the current level of trust within a team. This involves pinpointing any existing trust-related issues and understanding their root causes. Useful techniques for gathering this information can include confidential surveys or one-on-one interviews.
Setting Trust-Building Goals
After identifying the issues, the next step is to establish trust-building goals. These should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, a goal could be to 'reduce the incidence of miscommunication within the team by 50% within six months'.
Formulating an Action Plan
The third step in the Trust Coaching Cycle is to design an action plan. This involves deciding on the strategies that will be used to achieve the trust-building goals. These could include regular team-building exercises, open and honest communication, and transparency in decision-making processes.
Gathering Data and Providing Feedback
After implementing the action plan, the fourth step is to collect data to assess the effectiveness of the trust-building strategies. This can be done through regular feedback sessions, observation, and re-administering the initial trust diagnostic tools.
Monitoring and Adjusting the Process
The final step in the Trust Coaching Cycle involves monitoring and adjusting the process. This involves evaluating the data gathered, identifying any areas that need improvement, and making necessary adjustments to the action plan. This step is crucial as it ensures that the trust-building process is responsive to the team's needs.
The Key Components of Trust
Beyond the Trust Coaching Cycle, there are other essential elements of trust that leaders should be aware of. These include demonstrating reliability, technical competence, and adaptive competence. As Grant points out, "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them"4. By exhibiting reliability and competence, leaders can foster an environment where trust can thrive.
The Impact of Trust on Team Performance
Building trusting teams is not just about improving team dynamics; it also has a profound impact on the overall performance of the team. Research has shown that teams with high levels of trust are more innovative, collaborative, and productive5. Therefore, by prioritizing the building of trusting teams, leaders can significantly enhance their team's performance and, by extension, the effectiveness and efficiency of our municipal management.
It's important to recognize that building trust is a gradual process; it requires time and commitment. But the payoff is well worth the effort. As Grant aptly states, "The currency of trust is not in its exchange, but in its creation"6. As municipal leaders, let's commit ourselves to creating a culture of trust within our teams, for it is only through trust that we can truly unlock the full potential of our teams.
American Psychological Association. "Trust." APA Dictionary of Psychology. Last modified 2020. https://dictionary.apa.org/trust.
Grant, Adam. "Quotes." Goodreads. Accessed 2021. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?q=Adam+Grant.
Hicks, Joanna, and Richard Lewney. "The Trust Coaching Cycle: Building Trust for Better Performance." Leadership & Organization Development Journal 36, no. 7 (2015): 818–835.
Grant, Adam. "Quotes." Goodreads. Accessed 2021. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?q=Adam+Grant.
Dirks, Kurt T., and Donald L. Ferrin. "Trust in Leadership: Meta-Analytic Findings and Implications for Research and Practice." Journal of Applied Psychology 87, no. 4 (2002): 611–628.
Grant, Adam. "Quotes." Goodreads. Accessed 2021. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/search?q=Adam+Grant.