Earning CollectiveTrust Is Worth the Effort

  Leadership   Teams   PM Network  

I started as a project manager by accident in 1987. As a software engineer working for a Spanish company, I was assigned to manage six team members on a yearlong software implementation project for a Spanish bank. I had never managed a team, and all my team members were older and more experienced than I was. After some days of working with the sales people and my boss to prepare an initial plan, I realized my team members needed the opportunity to participate in the project plan and give their ideas and feedback.

They brought to the table several potential risks to be managed based on previous experiences as technical experts. They understood my intention was not to be the “king,” but to open a communication channel and listen to them. Because the project involved weekly travel to different locations, we had the opportunity to have breakfast, lunch and dinner together. Step by step, I gained credibility.

Over the years, I have listened to similar stories at project management events. To be successful, a team needs to work in a climate of trust and openness. That means members of the team are committed, involved and comfortable enough with one another to be creative, take risks and make mistakes.

Trust is the most important ingredient of a positive atmosphere, but how do team members reach a point where they can trust their leader? These …

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