Trust is essential in today\u2019s business world. Every day people talk about how important trust is, yet few know how to create it. Trust comes when people know they can count on you. Trust comes when people know you\u2019re there for them. When people protect each other, there is trust \u2014 it\u2019s that simple. When you\u2019re committed to others and their well-being, you can expect an extraordinary commitment in return.<\/p>\n
In the NBA, basketball players follow the concept of \u201csticking together.\u201d They know that by protecting each other, working collaboratively, and standing united against the competition, their chances of winning are greatly increased.<\/p>\n
In business, the only way you can do your job effectively, be creative and be innovative is when you know that someone has your back. When you\u2019re confident that someone is watching out for you, you\u2019re more willing to take risks to increase the bottom line.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, in many companies, people are just there to collect a paycheck. There\u2019s no creativity, no innovation and no risk-taking all because there\u2019s no sense of trust among team members. After all, if you know that no one is backing your ideas, why try to implement them? The chance of failure is too great.<\/p>\n
The world of professional basketball offers the perfect learning example. In basketball, one person\u2019s job is to guard the basket. As long as that person is doing his job, his teammates up the court can take risks and try to steal the ball from the other team. If they\u2019re unsuccessful with the steal, and the competition happens to get by them, they can count on the person guarding the basket to protect the team and keep the rival from scoring.<\/p>\n
But if the team members can\u2019t count on each other, they\u2019re not going to take risks. They\u2019re going to play it safe and stay in a defensive mode rather than taking an offensive position and going for the score.<\/p>\n
The same is true in business. People may have some good ideas, but they don\u2019t voice them because they don\u2019t feel protected. They don\u2019t feel that sense of trust or appreciation, so they stay under the radar doing just enough to not get fired. They become clock watchers who only care about themselves and their own agendas. As a result, you have a company filled with people who know only how to complain and whine rather than take action and responsibility. Now you no longer have a team; all you have is a group of people who look out only for themselves and deal with each other with a lot of divisiveness.<\/p>\n
If you want people in your company to not only think of new ideas but also to execute them, they need to feel supported. Protecting your teammates is a key ingredient in the NBA because if you don\u2019t have that trust then things quickly fall apart. For a business to succeed, it needs the same mentality. If you want your company to grow, change, innovate and rise to the top of your industry, you can\u2019t afford to have a bunch of people playing it safe. You need the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that comes when trust abounds.<\/p>\n
So if you\u2019re ready for your company to go from a bunch of \u201cplay-it-safe\u201d rookies to an innovative team of All-Star champions, consider these suggestions.<\/p>\n
What would it be like if everyone on your team truly felt safe? To be invaluable, be the person people can count on. To have enduring relationships, put others first. When you protect others, they take risks. They know they won\u2019t be criticized should they fail.<\/p>\n
This creates an environment of safety and freedom. That\u2019s what supports innovation and the fast responses required by a world and a market characterized by incessant change. When you protect others you may give up an opportunity or put yourself on the line. But when you do that, you show people you care. Let people know that they have your trust and support, even if that\u2019s not the prevalent culture. Remember that change has to start somewhere.<\/p>\n
Encourage people to come to you with ideas. When you decide to implement someone\u2019s idea, let that employee know that you completely support him. Win or lose, you\u2019re there for him.<\/p>\n
If it helps, think of your employees as your children. As a parent, your first priority is protecting your young. Just like kids, adults do their best when they feel cared for and safe. If you want peak performers, create an environment where everyone feels safe.<\/p>\n
The ideal manager is like the coach who stands up for his team. The man or woman who creates an atmosphere of trust is really creating a space where people will exceed expectations.<\/p>\n
One glimpse of trust starts a wellspring of performance and confidence. Think about it \u2026 if your supervisor said to you, \u201cThat\u2019s a great idea. Take this project on. You have my complete support,\u201d how would you feel? You\u2019d probably feel a sense of shock, and then a sense of eager anticipation. You\u2019d be excited and quick to tell others on your team what just happened.<\/p>\n
Then your co-workers would think, \u201cWow \u2014 I have an idea, too. I want to talk to the boss about it.\u201d One simple gesture of trust can create a sense of energy and enthusiasm in the workplace, which is really what everyone wants. The more management communicates with staff that they\u2019re creating an environment of trust, the more ideas and innovation people will bring to the table.<\/p>\n
Trust and loyalty are what distinguishes a team from a group. They\u2019re what make relationships irreplaceable and irresistible and people invaluable. When you fight for another person and transcend your own self-interest you change the world.<\/p>\n
Trust comes when people know they can count on you \u2026 that you\u2019re there for them no matter what. When people protect each other, trust is inevitable. It\u2019s that simple. When you commit to protecting others you can expect an extraordinary commitment in return.<\/p>\n
Trust sets people on fire. When you defend another, you find courage that you didn\u2019t know you had.<\/p>\n
Fighting for someone else and doing more for others than you do for yourself will bring out the best in you. And that\u2019s where you find the win. It\u2019s called the magic of teamwork.<\/p>\n
A former NBA all-star shows the steps you can take to help your employees soar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":3372,"parent":0,"template":"","main-categories":[25],"class_list":["post-3371","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","main-categories-business"],"yoast_head":"\n