Found an interesting blog post about Google’s study on team performance. It seems the most important thing is that team members feel secure enough to take risks without facing humiliation.

I find this interesting because it mirrors the recent book review I did in which Lencioni suggests a lack of trust is the first dysfunction of broken teams.

I’m fortunate to work in an industry that’s quite forward thinking. The abstract nature of our work means getting results is highly dependent on individuals working together. The team dynamic is built first and foremost on trust and respect. Without that no one’s going to pull an all nighter for you, nor will they back you up when you screw up.

For me, the easiest way to build this trust is to listen. Listening to my coworkers and allowing them to have their opinions heard helps build trust. At the very least they know I’ll hear them out if they have concerns. From there it’s a lot easier to get everyone engaged and trusting each other. It’s a small step in the right direction that can go a long way for productivity and team results.