Your Team Doesn't Trust You

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Morning my friend,

I trust this email finds you well 🤭 

I also trust you got some rest over the weekend?

Ok enough with the cliches - today’s letter is about how to build trust.

Trust is the foundation of effective and cohesive teams.

Yet, building and maintaining it can be tricky.

Frances Frei offers a simple framework.

And today, we’ll unpack it in detail.

Grab your coffee. ☕️ 

Let’s chat!

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What is Trust?

“Trust is the essential leadership capital.

It’s the basis for almost everything we do as civilized people.

I’m willing to be led by you because I trust you. In turn, you’re willing to rely on me because you trust me.” - Frances Frei

People tend to trust you when:

• when they have faith in your judgment and competence (logic),

• they think they are interacting with the real you (authenticity)

• when they believe that you care about them (empathy).

We’ve got Heath Ledger’s Joker with us today for his take on trust. It’s interesting to compare Batman and the Joker in terms of trust building:

Authenticity: Batman sticks to his moral code, no matter what. But the Joker? He's all over the place, constantly changing stories and personas, making him impossible to pin down or trust.​

Logic: Batman operates with a clear strategy and purpose, always planning his moves. The Joker, on the other hand, thrives on chaos and unpredictability, throwing logic out the window to keep everyone, especially Batman, guessing.​

Empathy: Batman genuinely cares about the people of Gotham and goes to great lengths to protect them. The Joker? He couldn't care less about human life, seeing people more as pawns in his twisted games.

No wonder we loved to hate the Joker - he just couldn't be trusted.

Authenticity: Be the Real You

Authenticity means showing up as your true self, without pretense.

When your team perceives you as genuine, trust flourishes.

Inauthenticity erodes confidence.

To enhance authenticity:

• Share your “why”.

• Admit and learn from mistakes.

• Be honest and open in communication.

• Share personal stories to build connection.

• Maintain consistency between words and actions.

Logic: Demonstrate Sound Judgment

Logic involves demonstrating competence and sound judgment.

It involves making informed decisions based on reasoning.

It builds trust by assuring others of your rigor.

To strengthen logic:

• Show effective problem-solving skills.

• Stay informed and up-to-date in your field.

• Make decisions based on data and reasoning.

• Explain the rationale behind decisions to the team.

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Empathy: Show Genuine Care

Empathy builds trust by making team members feel supported.

It means showing care, understanding, and compassion.

I means valuing others' feelings and experiences.

To enhance empathy:

• Offer compassionate support during challenges.

• Understand and appreciate different perspectives.

• Practice active listening and validate others' feelings.

• Ensure inclusive communication and decision-making.

• Celebrate successes and recognize individual contributions

Where is your trust Wobbling?

Frei and Morriss introduce the concept of "trust wobbles," where issues with authenticity, logic, or empathy lead to skepticism and break trust. Identify which area is faltering and address the root cause directly:

Your wobble may be empathy if people often think you care more about yourself than about others. Change your objective from getting what you need in your workplace to making sure everyone else gets what they need.

Your wobble may be logic if people don’t always have confidence in the rigor of your ideas. Or in your ability to deliver on them. For most logic wobblers, however, rigor isn’t the issue. A more likely explanation is that you’re not communicating your ideas effectively.

You may have an authenticity wobble if people feel they’re not getting access to the “real” you. What you know, think, and feel. Are you being true to yourself and showing up without facades. Are your actions aligning with your core values and beliefs?

By dealing with any wobbles, you can be confident you’re building trust with your team.

How many trust wobbles are there between the Joker and the Mob here?

Some “killer” one-liners in this scene…

Key Takeaway

Building trust with your team is an ongoing journey that takes deliberate effort.

The benefit is improved workplace dynamics and performance.

The Trust Triangle is your how-to guide.

By focusing on authenticity, logic, and empathy, you can create a foundation of trust that propels your team toward greater success.

I hope today’s letter was insightful.

Have a great week ahead!

Till next monday ☕️ 

Vaugan

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Today’s Chess Puzzle

It took me a bit to figure out the best move for this one...

See the solution here.

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