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Ahmed Ibrahim posted an update
4 months, 1 week agoMost teams secretly don’t trust each other.
Mine didn’t either until I started doing this:
Teams have all kinds of trust issues.
– Egos get in the way
– Issues fester under the surface
– Teams become dysfunctionalMine was the same – until I found this simple trust-building exercise:
(which I’ve now repeated dozens of times)
Take 15-20 minutes at the start of any longer meeting:
– Leadership off-sites
– Strategy sessionsWarn everyone that you’re going to get a bit personal – but that it’ll be fun.
Then, go around the room and ask each person these four questions:
Where did you grow up?
Help them expand:
– What was it like?
– Did you move as a kid?
– How long were you there?Nothing helps you empathize with people more than understanding their upbringing.
How many siblings do you have?
Then, ask:
– Older or younger?
– What was it like being the [oldest, middle, youngest, only] child?]This context really helps humanize your co-workers.
3️⃣ What sport or hobby did you love growing up?
Get them to elaborate:
– Did you play in high school / college?
– How did you get into it?
– Do you still play?Sports/hobbies are often an easy thing to find in common.
What’s a big challenge you overcame growing up?
This is where things get real.
People really open up – it’s very important for the group to listen attentively and not judge.
Common responses:
– Moved towns
– Death in the family
– Bullied in schoolThis simple exercise has a massive impact.
You’ll see people…
– Drop their guard
– Find things in common
– Better relate to each otherI’ve seen the trust built through this exercise last for years!
It’s a powerful exercise. Give it a try.
Nothing can stop a team that deeply trusts each other!
Thank you for reading.
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Ahmed Ibrahimreplied 4 months, 1 week ago
Worthy of reading
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