We understand that developing high performing teams requires building safe places for people to form relationships, experiment and grow. One of the predecessors to creating safe places for people is the trust we accrue as we engage them on their terms.

"Safety is the result of the work we have already done, not something that we do by itself."

Exemplary leaders value the trust their followers place in them. I have listed a few attributes of trust.

What is trust like?

1. Trust is no more a commodity than is friendship

2. Trust can live a long, long time; our job is to make it thrive

3. Trust between individuals is personal

4. Trust cannot be rushed

5. Trust between people happens best one conversation at a time

6. Trust is multi-dimensional

7. Trust can be situational

8. Trust is the substance that holds people, teams, communities, and nations together

9. Trust is like air in a relationship, without it the relationship suffers and eventually it dies

10. Trust possesses a seed of eternity; the reason why it is sought after

11. Trust is precious because despite all the work we put in to earn it, we cannot give it to ourselves; trust is given freely from from another

Conclusion

Those wanting to become a leader others want to follow dedicate themselves to practices and thinking that make us trust worthy.

Want to dive deeper in how to build trust with your team? The Trust Edge written by David Horsager is a great place to start.