TRUST

1. Care: Team members feel you care about them individually and as a group.

• I dig for others’ underlying interests and concerns. (SLI 2.3)

• I empathize with others and notice people’s emotions. (SLI 2.5)

• I listen in a way that people feel heard. (SLI 2.6)

• I stay present and avoid cell phone and computer distractions. (SLI 4.2)

• I coach, challenge and support people to develop their skills and careers. (SLI 7.5)

• I do not talk negatively behind people’s backs (no triangulation). When I have an issue, I speak directly to the person. (SLI 7.7)

2. Affiliation: Team members feel connected to you as a leader and feel like they are on your team.

• I am approachable and open to critical feedback on ideas, decisions and leadership style. I am willing to learn from mistakes. (SLI 2.2)

• I draw the quiet people out. (SLI 4.4)

• I brainstorm with others to generate creative solutions. (SLI 4.5)

• I motivate people to bring their best and strive for excellence. (SLI 7.1)

• When people are failing, I offer support and resources (instead of beating them up). (SLI 7.3)

3. Appreciation: Team members feel their contribution is understood and valued. 

• I communicate and break down the vision so that people see how they fit in. (SLI 1.2)

• When tasks are completed, I give helpful feedback (both positive and negative). (SLI 6.7)

• I offer frequent and genuine appreciation for people’s contributions. (SLI 7.2)

• I debrief issues. I assume positive intent and help others learn from mistakes. (SLI 7.4)

4. Autonomy: Team members have the freedom to express opinions, make decisions and work without being micromanaged.

• I renegotiate priorities with others when things change. I do not pile on new objectives without reprioritizing old ones. (SLI 1.5)

• I embrace creative conflict. I do not shy away from passionate debate. (SLI 4.3)

• I include the right people in decision-making. (SLI 5.1)

• I proactively inform people who are impacted by decisions. (SLI 5.7)

• I allow people to fulfill their roles and make decisions without micromanaging them. (SLI 6.5)

5. Sincerity: Team members believe you are transparent and honest

• I clearly express where I stand on issues. (SLI 3.1)

• I share my opinions and concerns, even if unpopular or lacking certainty. (SLI 3.2)

• I address challenging issues promptly. I name the elephant in the room. (SLI 3.4)

• I give honest feedback. I share my perspective when I am dissatisfied with people’s work. (SLI 3.5)

• I clean up issues with others. I do not harbor resentment. (SLI 3.6)

6. Fairness: Team members feel equitably treated and that you make fair decisions.

• I bring curiosity and willingness to be influenced. (SLI 2.1)

• I listen to ideas fairly, regardless of who is presenting them. (SLI 2.4)

• I own my opinions as opinions. I do not position my opinions as facts to prove my point. (SLI 3.3)

• I have sufficient understanding of an issue and others’ opinions before advocating for a specific solution. (SLI 4.6)

• I consider others’ opinions and concerns before deciding. I respect people’s roles and expertise. (SLI 5.2)

• I make good and timely decisions. I take appropriate risks even if all the information is not available. (SLI 5.4)

7. Reliability (Yours): Team members believe you will honor the commitments you make.

• I am clear when a decision is made and ensure full group alignment. Even if some people would have made a different decision, I “disagree and commit.” (SLI 5.5)

• I ensure commitments are clear, realistic, and agreed upon (who is doing what by when). (SLI 6.1)

• I do what I say I will do. I follow up. (SLI 6.2)

• I renegotiate when commitments are in jeopardy. I avoid surprising others with bad news or last-minute delays. (SLI 6.4)

8. Team Reliability (Through Managing Others): Team members believe your team will fulfill their commitments on time.

• I establish clear next steps. (SLI 5.6)

• I track progress on commitments and ensure completion. (SLI 6.3)

• I hold people accountable. When commitments are missed, I discuss what went wrong and get a new commitment. (SLI 6.6)

• I ensure the right person is in the role, moving or letting people go when it’s the wrong fit. (SLI 6.8)

9. Capability: Team members believe you have the skills, decision-making capabilities and resources to fulfill your role.

• I embody and share a compelling vision of the future. (SLI 1.1)

• I establish clear roadmaps that define the milestones & short-term future. (SLI 1.3)

• I establish clear priorities so that people know what to work on. (SLI 1.4)

• I establish key metrics and indicators to stay on track. (SLI 1.6)

• I lead effective meetings. I clarify the objectives and avoid unnecessary rabbit holes. (SLI 4.1)

• I have a bias for action. I am willing to try out ideas and see what is learned, eg. rapid prototyping. (SLI 5.3)

• I lead effective 1-on-1’s. (SLI 7.6)

Trust and the SLI Leadership Micro-practices (45)