The best teams I’ve been part of always had two traits: 1) the team members were highly connected with each other and 2) they were wildly open – due to the trust and goodwill deeply embedded in the team. Working on these teams was a gift. The work was fun, good humor abounded, and the creative juices just flowed. Teams with these traits can accomplish anything. They can tackle tight timelines. Exceed expectations. Innovate and adapt in times of crisis. Teams like this also tend to “Do the Right Thing” because they’ve been empowered to do so.
Years ago, a client of mine used this simple phrase over and over again with his team: “Do the Right Thing”. I loved this because, there was inherent trust in his statement. This particular client led a global team that worked in highly demanding, fast paced situations – with daily challenges requiring speedy and independent decision making. The work environment demanded autonomy in decision making and creativity was a requirement – one that enabled better and quicker problem solving skills.
“Do the Right Thing” reflected my client’s trust in the team to not only know what the right thing was – but most importantly there was an underlying, hidden message that said “When you ‘Do the Right Thing’, I have your back”. If there was ever any fall out, it would fall on his shoulders. The team knew that – and it wasn’t often the team faltered. Why? Because they were connected. In large part to him, and in many ways to each other. He actively empowered this connection, and with trust he fostered their creativity by giving them ample opportunities to practice and implement it. Daily.
So how do we foster these gifts for our teams – connection, creativity and trust? As leaders and managers, we always start internally first, with ourselves. Modeling for others arises naturally when it arises from within us. There’s nothing to do – it is simply part of who we are.
So where are you fostering your own connection and creativity? And how are you making room for more trust within your team? Does your team know and trust themselves to “Do the Right Thing”?
Connection, Creativity & Trust
- Connection: Do you take time for yourself regularly? Do you disconnect and unplug? When you do so, how does this connection with yourself impact you and your work?
- Creativity: Where does Creativity arise from for you? How have you cultivated space in your days and weeks to support Creativity? When have you been most Creative in the past?
- Trust: Reflect on a moment that you’ve deeply Trusted others and they responded in kind. How did this mutual Trust support you? What allowed you to step into this Trust?
