How much productivity do you and your team lose due to a lack of trust? It’s not that you think someone is going to stab you in the back but rather you feel the need to constantly look over someone’s shoulder or check that person’s work.
On important tasks, this higher level of supervision may be justified. In most cases, it’s unnecessary. If you’ve hired a good person and trained them well, you should be able to trust that he or she will perform. Watching their every move will distract you from the things where your focus is required.
To illustrate this point, let me take you back to my days when I ran the business operations for a professional ballet company. One of the perks of the job was being able to see the dancers rehearse their performances.
During this time, I noticed how well the dancers worked together as pairs. I’d see the ballerina (the female dancer) flow effortlessly with her partner (the male dancer). This teamwork was the product of hours of rehearsal and often years of collaboration.
A great example of this partnership would come when the ballerina would jump into the air and her partner would then catch her. When it’s done right it’s a simple and beautiful move.
In order for the dancers to reach their full potential in this moment, two things need to happen:
The ballerina needs to launch herself into the air as high as she can and with as much grace as possible. Her focus needs to be entirely on that move. She can’t worry about whether she’ll be caught or fall to the ground.
Meanwhile, her partner needs to be 100% focused on catching the ballerina when gravity brings her down to earth. He needs to have the strength and coordination to make this catch look effortless.
There’s always a chance that something may be slightly off in the ballerina’s jump. He has to adjust the catch so the audience doesn’t notice the problem. He doesn’t get a second chance to make a first impression on the audience.
The two performers are united in a commitment to their art. To maximize their performance, each must focus on their task. You won’t succeed at a high level if you’re doubting your partner.
I’ve had ballet experts tell me that problems happen when one partner second guesses the other performer. How can you jump high when you’re nervous about your landing? How can you catch a ballerina if you’re doubting her jumping ability?
While your office may not be the same as a performance stage, can you approach that level of trust? If not, really try to drill down on what’s preventing it. Maybe it’s an opportunity for more training. It might also be a sign that the two parties need to sit down and ensure that they are both committed to being a part of a whole and not just performing as soloists during a duet.
When you have trust, you save the time you spend worrying unnecessarily.
Maybe it’s time to bring Ken Okel to your next meeting…
Read any good books lately?
