Patrick Lencioni’s work, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, is heralded by many as one of the most fundamental models about teamwork for business teams. Lencioni’s work is summed up in a well-known diagram that features a pyramid comprised of the elements that most often stand in the way of a team’s effectiveness and functionality. The lowest pyramid section is an absence of trust.
If you’re wondering why you’d take your team on a team building retreat, the most fundamental answer is to build trust. Why is trust so key and how can you tell if your team is lacking it? Keep reading to find out.
Why Trust is a Must
Usually we’re too busy in our day-to-day tasks and assignments to actively develop the level of trust that the most effective teams require.
No, we’re not talking about doing blindfolded walks in the woods or conducting trust falls off tables. The type of trust we’re referencing is the kind that’s required to be able to say the challenging thing in the room or to ask someone else for help without criticism (or them thinking that you can’t handle your job).
See what we mean? These things are very real, and as the team’s leader, you may feel this confident and comfortable with them one on one, but do you think they are with one another?
Team Trust Takes Time and Effort
So many chalk a lack of trust up to the newness of a team, and that with time, things will get better. We’ll tell you right now, though, time alone isn’t enough.
In any relationship, be it with a spouse or with friends, developing trust not only takes time, it takes active work outside of your day to day. And it’s no different between team members. This effort will benefit your day-to-day work in the long run, but you can’t just expect it to happen without effort on your end.
If you’re going to do a triathlon, you can sign up for several in the future and maybe you’ll get better. But maybe what you should be doing is weightlifting or following a workout regimen in between. Focus on improving and getting better outside the main event so you don’t have to work quite as hard.
Building Blocks of Team Trust
Team building opportunities work to do a good deal of heavy lifting for your team’s relationships, allowing you all to get closer to bringing out your true talents, being unafraid to share ideas, ask for help, or offer it.
If you’re interested in getting your team’s trust off the ground, it’ll take a bit of planning, but the payoff is definitely worth it.
Want some ideas for team building activities away from the office? Check out these five!