The 10 Trust Essentials

Competence: Trust comes from the perception that team members are competent, and so
will not let me down. We can trust our team when they can be relied on to do their work to a
high standard and are good at what they do.

Common Ground: Shared background, values, approaches, and interests allow Educators to
trust each other. Trust thrives when the individuals in the team work towards common goals
rather than a private agenda and share their way of thinking and approaches to work.

Empathy: This is trust based on the belief that other team members are concerned about
individuals overall welfare. They show that they really care about each other and provide
support when needed.

Promise Keeping: Trust grows when team members maintain their promises and do what
they say they will do. If Educators are seen as keeping their promises and commitments the
trusting bonds will be strengthened.

The amazing German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche said, Im not upset that you lied to
me, Im upset that from now on I cant believe you.

Predictability: When Educators are reliable and respect the established norms and rules of
the team it becomes easy to trust them. If team members behaviour is inconsistent or
unpredictable then trust may be eroded.

Well-being: Teams that encourage Educators to say what they think and are tolerant when
different or unpopular views are expressed are characterized as teams with a high degree of
trust.

Inclusion: This is trust arising from the observation that other team members actively
include each other in their social and work activities

To promote trust, individuals should listen and positively respond to ideas and opinions of
team members and make decisions in a participative and democratic way.

Share Information: Trust can come from the fact that other team members share
information important to the team proactively and clearly. Trust grows when they exchange
information in a transparent and unambiguous way and are open about their needs and
reasons.

Open and Approachable: This is trust based on the observation that other team members
share their true feelings and team members can relate to them on a personal level. For trust to
thrive Educators need to be ready to reveal personal information about themselves and
demonstrate sincerity by sharing their emotions.

Co-Operation: This is trust based on the observation that other team members are trusting
and co-operative. Trust arrives when individuals support each other in their team efforts.
Trust is like a garden. It takes many hours to grow and nurture. It can also be destroyed
quickly with careless actions.
In Stephen Coveys book The Speed of Trust he says Contrary to what most people
believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you dont; rather, trust is
a pragmatic, tangible, actionable asset that you can create.

By focusing on the 10 trust essentials you can grow trust in your team. Trust is the one thing
that changes everything. During good times, it allows us to communicate and interact
without fear of being misinterpreted. During periods of stress and pressure, it allows the
relationship to bend, stretch and take the strain without snapping. Trust really is the glue that
holds us all together. Without it, your team will flounder. With it, your team will soar.