The Trust Builders tool is designed to improve team health by building vulnerability-based trust among team members. It is typically introduced during the Team Health section of an Annual Planning session. The objective of Trust Builders is to foster a culture where team members can be open, honest, and transparent with one another, which is foundational for strong teamwork and collaboration.
Key Elements of Trust Builders:
- Vulnerability-Based Trust: Encouraging team members to be vulnerable and open about their strengths, weaknesses, and concerns helps build deeper trust within the team.
- Regular Practice: The tool encourages selecting at least one Trust Builder each quarter to continually improve team trust and health.
- Examples of Trust Builders: Activities such as the “Personal Histories” exercise, where team members share personal backgrounds, and the “One Thing” exercise, where each member identifies one thing they appreciate about their colleagues, are examples of Trust Builders that can be used to enhance trust and team cohesion.
By committing to regular Trust Builders activities, teams can steadily improve their interpersonal relationships and create a more cohesive and high-performing team environment.
