Building A Stronger Team
If you want your team to get closer, perform at a higher level and make a difference, they need to trust each other. Building trust can feel really hard, but sometimes all it takes is asking the right questions.
In Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team he outlines 5 questions you can ask in a team that lead to immediate results.These questions might seem basic, but most teams that have been together for years can't answer these questions about each other. When you don’t know much about each other, finding out a little more goes a surprisingly long way.
How can you build trust in your team?
Sometimes, all it takes is a question.
Five Trust-Building Questions For Your Team:
1. What’s your hometown?
Or if you’re all from the same city you can ask, what high school did you go to?
2. How many siblings do you have?
You can follow up by asking each member where they sit in the family (i.e. oldest, middle etc.)
3. What interesting childhood hobbies did you have?
You might be surprised at what talents your team members actually have!
4. What was your biggest challenge growing up?
This is a more personal question, so don't force team members to open up. If you're leading the discussion you should answer this question first. Your answer will set the tone for what your team mates share.
5. What was your first job?
One bonus question to add onto this is: what is the worst job you've had?
While these questions may seem basic, they will help your team build mutual understanding and trust. When you know where a person comes from, it’s much easier to know where they’re going and why they are the way they are.
You’ll probably be surprised with how your team will somehow feel more at ease with each other and more tightly knit after all going through these questions.
So what are you waiting for? Go and write these questions down to ask in your next meeting.
If your meetings are short and you don’t have time for all five, you could go through one personal history question every week.
If your team has gone through these questions, here are some more questions you can use to build trust in your team.
And if you'd like to organise an activity to bond over, like Laser Tag or a Japanese Cuisine Masterclass get in touch with us!