Three-Dimensional Trust

Connection.
Trust.
Community.

Every manager wants a high-performing team, where the culture as a whole supports and accentuates the individual creativity of each member. In my decades of experience in generating and maintaining such environments, I’ve identified the following prerequisites (in order):

1. Connection,
2. Trust, and
3. Community.

I fell in love with community design as an RA at Stanford in 1999, and have been refining my skills across the world ever since.

My real goal with every retreat is to build community.

Whether the supposed goal is Mission, Vision, or Strategy — community is the launchpad for truly inspired collaboration.

Community is a bit like falling in love: It’s hard to measure but you know it when you’ve got it.

For me, Community is the natural and inevitable outgrowth of Three-Dimensional Trust.

1. Trust in oneself (one’s value, one’s capability, one’s efficacy)
2. Trust in each other (safe and reliable relationships)
3. Trust in the shared purpose and vision (usually articulated by leadership)

Similarly, that Trust is built on a foundation of connection on those same three dimensions:

1. Connection to self (Why am I a part of this group? Do I belong here?)
2. Connection to others (Do I understand these people? Do I like interacting with them?)
3. Connection to the mission (Is there a reason beyond financial security for me to be here?)

Focus on Community

My advice to managers interested in productivity is to focus on community.

That’s why the retreats I design and facilitate are structured to build connection and trust, which in turn lay the groundwork for community and creativity.

Whether it’s an engineering team, advisory board, or senior leadership, a well-done retreat can pay dividends for years, with a palpable and dramatic shift for 12-18 months afterwards. Greater alignment. Fewer disputes. More grace. The benefit of the doubt. Esprit de corps.

All of which lead inevitably towards productivity and that hallowed bottom line.