First Things First: Trust
Establishing trust in a team is crucial for any manager, and most importantly, if you are new to their management. Achieving this quickly is important for effective collaboration and performance within the practice. If you don’t have the trust of your team, you don’t have a team.
Trust must be earned; building that trust takes work and personal commitment. Start by digging in!
Understand your team’s motivations, backgrounds, and reasons for being there. Be open and transparent in return. Review resumes and past evaluations, and take each person to lunch to discover their “why.”
Learn what drives them and why they are with the practice, and ask about the office’s culture, strengths, and areas for improvement. This will help you understand team perspectives and structure. Building personal trust is more valuable than task-based relationships. Ensure they trust your decisions and consider their best interests and the team’s, not just your own.
Here are a few ways I have found to build trust:
Practice What You Preach
Your beliefs and actions are what your team will trust. Manage authenticity and believe in what you do and ask of your team. If you must request something you don’t support, say, “I’ve been told to ask you…” This maintains your role while showing transparency.
Be Direct and Honest
If team members make mistakes, inform them instead of setting them up to fail. Praise them when they do well to encourage more of it. Share your thoughts and beliefs to build trust.
Stay professional and show empathy. Address errors privately, offering advice for improvement. Give clear instructions, help honestly, and admit your own mistakes.
Include Your Team in Decision Making
Try a “take it to the team” approach. When everyone has a say, they feel more committed. This creates an inclusive environment where all ideas are encouraged. Pay attention to your team; they often identify problems early and suggest practical solutions. Appreciate their input and act on it to build trust.
Incorporate Team Activities
Trust-building activities can effectively enhance trust within a team. One activity involves team members writing positive comments about their colleagues. These comments are then compiled into cards and distributed. Observing team members read the cards can reveal attributes they may not have been aware of.
Stay Open to Feedback
Ask questions to show you’re open to feedback. Examples include:
- “Can I ask you for some advice?” – Shows openness to receiving feedback.
- “Tell me more…” – Demonstrates active listening.
- “What are you seeing that I’m not?” – Invites perspective sharing.
- “What are your expectations of me?” – Indicates a two-sided relationship.
- “What do you need for support?” – Shows willingness to help.
- “Is there anything I should start or stop doing to make this better for you?” – Displays vulnerability and readiness to improve.
There is a lot that goes into building trust with your teams. It’s more about getting to know your team members, showing them what you believe in, the behaviors you display, and the actions you take versus what you say. Your true reward for achieving trust is having a team that challenges and inspires you every day; they will change your life!
About the Author
Erin Andersen, MAADOM
Serving the industry now for 26 years, I started out as an ambitious dental assistant and was quick to learn the ins and outs of dentistry. I grew passionate about systems, and when well-oiled, how successful a dental practice can be. This led me to dive into team leadership and driving individuals’ passions to be the best they can be.
Once I learned this, I learned that when I take care of my team, they care for our patients, and that is what drives my passion to succeed. I currently hold my MAADOM distinction and will be working for my DAADOM.
