Our theme for 2020 at PCI is Trust: the one thing that changes everything. Today, we’re going to look at an additional strategy to build trust: be vulnerable.
What?!?
What does vulnerability have to do with trust?
Everything.
So says Patrick Lencioni, author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.
Trust is the foundational element of Patrick’s model. His first dysfunction is an “absence of trust” amongst team members, which he believes originates from an unwillingness to be vulnerable within the group.
High performing teams are genuinely open with each other about our mistakes and weaknesses. We don’t pretend things are okay when they are not. And, we don’t cover up mistakes when they happen.
Patrick defines trust as confidence amongst team members that our peers’ intentions are good. There is no reason to be protective or careful within the group. What we say will not be used against us at a later date.
Teams that trust each other engage in unfiltered and passionate debate.
Teams that lack trust do not.
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Reflection: How often does my team engage in unfiltered and passionate debate?
Action: Run an experiment. Lean towards vulnerability.
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