When we first form the team, I barely know some members of our team. At first, it was actually a struggle for me to communicate effectively with the team members, this leads to a lack of trust within the team. In this article, I will explain how to make friends, establish relations, and understanding people and how our team attempt to get to know each other, especially from my point of view.
According to Forbes, there are 10 ways to build trust within a company. I will choose 7 ways that implementable for small teams.
Vulnerability
Talk about your fears and trust. To gain trust from others, we have to make them feel that we trust them. In our team, we always admit if we can not do something, and need to study first before doing it. Other than that, we always admit in sprint retro if in that sprint we feel like we didn’t do our best.
There are 3ways to be vulnerable:
Ask for and give help
If you are not an expert on a topic — or even if you are — seek input from your team members. Be open about the fact that you do not know everything and ask your teammates to support you.
Here are two examples when I ask for help to my team mates and when they ask help from me.
Ask for feedback
Asking for feedback can make our teammates feel like we trust them. When you ask for a team member’s input, be receptive and listen with your full attention. Make sure that your teammates know their feedback has been heard and you intend to act on it. We usually give and ask for feedback to each other in every sprint retrospective. There, we state what already good in our teammates and what needs imporvement.
Try something new
When we step outside of our comfort zone, we automatically put ourselves in a vulnerable position. It can be scary, exciting, and fulfilling all at the same time.
Identify a new skill or technology you would like to learn. Talk to your teammates about your process as well as the successes and challenges you face.
Avoid blaming others
“It’s you and your team vs the problem, not you vs who cause it”
Blaming others will only sway our focus from the solution to the problem.
Create an informal session
In informal situations, people usually lower their guard and become more relaxed. We can mingle and personally get to know our teammates in informal sessions.
Admit your mistakes
There are 4 reasons why we should admit our own mistakes:
Admitting your mistakes is the fastest path to moving past them
When you realize your mistake and immediately admit it, it allows everyone to focus on finding a solution, rather than focusing on the problem (and who’s to blame for it).
Gain respect
When you are the first to admit a mistake and take steps to correct it (or minimize damage) as soon as possible, you’re earning the trust of the people you lead.
Give yourself some grace
We’re hardest on ourselves, and sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves that we’re ashamed to admit we’ve done something wrong. But nobody (nobody but you) expects you to be anything but human, and humans aren’t perfect. When you admit to your imperfections, you’ll find that most people are willing to forgive them, because they have them too.
Use simple language to communicate
Don’t use complicated word choices when communicating with your team. Using simple language will enforce understanding thus your means to communicate will be achieved.
Ask how they’re doing
Asking how they’re doing will make your teammates more open to you and make you informed on the team’s dynamic. You’ll know faster when someone is having a hard time for example.
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