8. SPII’s Charter of Values – #Trust #TakeCare
People should take care of their team, and the team should take care of its people
The concept of trust is an essential element in any team environment. It is the foundation upon which a team’s success is built, and it is a critical component of a healthy and productive workplace.
But trust is not something that can be easily achieved, and it requires effort and dedication from both the team and its members to maintain.
So the greatest question, one we have tried to find an answer to for as long as our company lived (and it’s a long time!), is this: what are the ingredients to this elusive, yet essential element for every team’s success?
Here is our (not so secret) recipe to create well-baked Trust
It’s a simple one, only 3 ingredients: we believe support, honesty, and openness are the cornerstones for generating trust in one’s team.
- Support is an essential element: being available to help a teammate, even without being asked, can do a great difference. By offering and receiving support, team members can feel that they are valued and that their contributions are appreciated. This leads to increased motivation and engagement, which ultimately leads to a more productive and successful team.
- Honesty is another key element in building trust within a team. Team members should feel that they can be honest with each other, without fear of judgment or retaliation. This can become a great boost not only for productivity but also for innovation, because where individuals can share their thoughts and ideas freely these is creativity.
- Finally, openness is the last but not least critical element. Encouraging open communication and transparency, as well as being open to feedback and suggestions from team members, is the only way a team can truly thrive.
When a team can be supportive, honest and open, there can be trust. It means every need of the team is taken care of.
But who takes care of whom?
#Trust is synonym with #TakeCare
One of the most common ideas is that the team should take care of its people.
This means that the whole team should be committed to the well-being and success of each individual member, which should work together to create a supportive and nurturing environment.
Providing opportunities for professional development, offering support when needed, and fostering a sense of community and belonging within the team…these are all “roles” a team should play towards the members to be successful.
But is this really true?
At SPII, we have come to realize that this can be a dangerous path. The idea of the team taking care of its people can also become pathological, if not executed properly.
It can lead to a culture where individuals become complacent and rely solely on the team to take care of them, without making any effort to contribute to the smooth functioning of the system. This can cause resentment among other team members and can ultimately lead to a breakdown of the hard-earned trust.
It’s the perfect example of the “it depends on others” culture we fought hard to eliminate.
On the other hand, a culture of “it depends on me” only can also be problematic. People could feel overworked and undervalued, if they are constantly expected to take on more responsibilities without support or recognition from the team. This can lead to burnout and can ultimately harm the overall productivity, going back to the previous cultural stage.
So what is the right answer? As usual, it is in the middle.
A balance between the two cultures
True, the team should take care of its people, but first of all every team member should take care of their team.
The team’s responsibility should not come at the expense of individual accountability. Each team member needs to take ownership of their role and to actively contribute to the team’s success.
And how to achieve this? Guess what…with support, honesty and openness!
If team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas, to speak up when they feel that something is not working, and to offer support when they see that they can contribute to a resolution…well, this can make a team almost invincible.
And then, if the team recognizes and rewards individuals for their efforts, if it can motivate people to keep making positive contributions, this can ultimately lead to a more cohesive and productive team environment.
The golden circle of trust
You see? Trust in a team is a perfect circle: it starts with a personal contribution to the benefit of the team, and it ends with a team contribution to the benefit of the individual.
Ultimately, we all have a role to play in building trust within our teams.
We must do our part first by being supportive, honest, and open, and by actively working to create a culture of trust and mutual respect.
The bottom line is that if we are a team, then no one should be left behind. Working together, we can build a strong and productive team environment, where everyone can thrive and achieve their full potential.
Do you agree with us? Let us know below.
See you next time,
Ilaria Cazziol
