Season 8 Episode 12: 4 Trust Musts For Every Leader & Team

In the latest episode of The Thermostat Podcast, Season 8, Episode 12, titled “4 Trust Musts For Every Leader & Team,” Jason V Barger delves deep into the integral role of trust in leadership, team building, and creating compelling cultures. This insightful episode is a continuation of a series focusing on trust’s pivotal role in today’s organizational and leadership realms.

Main Themes of the Episode

The episode underscores the importance of trust in leadership and team dynamics, emphasizing four essential “trust musts” that leaders and teams should embody to foster a culture of trust. These are:

• Communication: Open and honest feedback to eliminate miscommunications and build a foundation of trust.
• Commonality: Finding common ground and aligning on visions, goals, and priorities to enhance team cohesion.
• Competence: Demonstrating expertise and acknowledging when one doesn’t have all the answers to maintain credibility.
• Consistency: Following through on commitments and being transparent with words and actions to solidify trust over time.

Notable Timestamps Covering the Themes

• Communication: [13:05] – Barger discusses the criticality of communication in building trust, advocating for open and honest exchanges to avoid misunderstandings.
• Commonality: [14:13] – The conversation turns to the importance of finding alignment and commonality within the team to drive unified efforts towards shared goals.
• Competence: [15:12] – Competence is highlighted as a cornerstone of trust, with Barger encouraging leaders to share their expertise genuinely and own up to their knowledge gaps.
• Consistency: [16:20] – The emphasis on consistency in actions and communications as a vital trust-building mechanism is discussed, highlighting the impact of reliable behaviors on trustworthiness.

Pull Quotes Summarizing the Episode

• “Trust is bartered every single day back and forth with the people around us.” – On the daily investment required in building trust.
• “What is mentionable becomes more manageable.” – Highlighting the power of communication in making challenges more approachable.
• “We are always in the process of aligning with the people on our team.” – On the ongoing effort to find common ground and direction.
• “Do what you say you’ll do.” – The simplest yet most profound advice on building trust through consistency.

Questions to Ponder

At the episode’s conclusion, Barger leaves listeners with thought-provoking questions to encourage self-reflection and actionable steps towards enhancing trust within their teams:

1. Where are our opportunities to better communicate in open and transparent ways?
2. How can we create better alignment and commonality with our people on the road ahead?
3. Where can we own our shortfalls and seek solutions for the future?
4. How can we commit to consistency in how we show up for our people and as a team?

These reflective questions, alongside the episode’s rich content, offer valuable insights and practical steps for leaders and teams striving to build and sustain trust. In today’s fast-paced and often unpredictable business environment, embracing these “trust musts” can be a game-changer in fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and excellence.