Let’s Talk… Trust and Strategy Sessions: The Secret to High-Performing Teams ??

Let’s Talk… Trust and Strategy Sessions: The Secret to High-Performing Teams ??

Welcome to The Connect Effect Conversations. Today, we’re exploring how trust is an essential element for creating alignment within leadership and strategy sessions. By unlocking trust and the ability to "be real", teams can achieve greater success in their planning and execution.


The Question: Will Being Real Lead to Better Results?

It’s strategy time. Leaders everywhere are gathering for planning days and off-sites to map out the year ahead. But how do we move from "the same old conversations" to achieving real, impactful results? The answer lies in trust—and how real we can be with one another.

In many workplaces, our culture, age, or past habits influence how open we are. For example, in many Australian leadership teams, surface-level interactions are often the norm to keep things smooth and conflict-free. However, when innovation and progress are the goals, we need to go beyond these polite facades.


Why It Matters

When trust is low, people hold back, play it safe, and valuable insights get lost, great outcomes vanish. A lack of trust can have serious consequences, as seen with Nokia, once a leader in the mobile phone market. The company’s downfall in the 2010s was largely due to internal breakdowns in trust and communication:

  • Broken Internal Trust: Nokia’s leadership failed to listen to employees’ concerns about its strategy, especially in the face of competition from Apple and Android.
  • Culture of Fear: Employees hesitated to speak up about flaws in the company’s direction, and leadership’s reluctance to accept feedback led to poor decision-making.
  • Suppressed Feedback: The lack of trust within teams meant that crucial feedback was often withheld, preventing the company from adapting quickly to market changes.

The result? Nokia lost significant market share and its leadership position in the industry.


Why Trust Is the Cornerstone of Collaboration (and Productive Conflict)

Here are a few key reasons why it's crucial to invest in building trust at the start of your leadership sessions to create a strong team dynamic:

  • Better Decision-Making: Teams that trust each other communicate openly, leading to more informed and diverse perspectives.
  • Increased Innovation: Vulnerability encourages team members to share unconventional ideas, sparking creativity and driving progress.
  • Higher Accountability: In a trusting environment, people feel comfortable holding one another accountable, which ensures stronger execution of goals.
  • Faster Progress: With trust, teams can move forward efficiently, avoiding misunderstandings and unnecessary second-guessing.
  • Stronger Collaboration: Learning each other’s stories builds bonds and promotes deeper collaboration, as team members better understand each other’s strengths and challenges.


The Opportunity: Being Real for Results

In my work, I draw from many sources. One that is helpful is from Patrick Lencioni’s insights in The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, trust is the foundation of high-performing teams. Without trust, even the best plans falter. By encouraging vulnerability, teams can break down barriers, enabling more open communication and alignment with shared goals.

Here are some tips you can try:

?? Create “Truth Sessions” for Radical Transparency: Start your next leadership meeting with a dedicated “truth session,” where each leader shares one major concern or blind spot they see in the organisation. Encourage everyone to be candid by creating a safe space for feedback—this sets the tone for openness and trust, allowing the team to address issues before they become bigger problems.

?? Trust-Building “Storytelling Roundtables”: Set aside time for senior leaders to share key personal stories—either about their leadership journey or challenges faced outside of work. This deepens understanding of each other's values and motivations, which can form the basis of stronger collaboration and a more unified leadership team.

?? Try Rankless Feedback Sessions: Hold sessions where titles are set aside, allowing everyone to contribute equally. This fosters open dialogue, encourages fresh perspectives, and builds trust by focusing on ideas rather than hierarchy. It's a great way to ensure all voices are heard and valued.



Further Reading and Resources:

  • Patrick Lencioni on Teamwork and Trust - A deep dive into the foundations of trust in teams from The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. You can watch a short video here.
  • The Power Of Vulnerability In Leadership: Experts Say Authenticity And Honesty Can Move People And Achieve Results (FORBES) - Learn how vulnerability fosters trust and stronger team dynamics. Read more here.
  • Building Trusting Teams - Practical tips for creating trust in leadership and across teams from Simon Sinek. Watch video here.


Need Help for Your Team?

Do you have an upcoming leadership strategy session? I offer a workshop specifically designed to help leadership teams align, refocus, and enhance their effectiveness as you prepare for the year ahead. This interactive session fosters trust, builds collaboration, and helps teams set the foundation for strategic success.

Here’s the flyer for more details or visit my website for more information. www.kirrynzerna.com




Danielle Dobson

Leadership Development, Speaking & Executive Coaching | I'll Help You Navigate Change and Take Action | Author and Media Commentator | Work with me in 2025

4 周

Yes Kirryn Zerna trust is SO crucial. More so for some people than others and when trust is broken, it’s hard to come back from it. That’s exactly why your workshop is needed right now.

Kirryn Zerna

?? Communication & Connection Keynote Speaker | LinkedIn Top Communication Voice | Non Executive Director | Author | GAICD | MMgt | BComm |

4 周
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HELEN MAC CSP, CVP

?? Business Improvement Specialist and Cultural Optimism Evangelist ??

4 周

Great timing for leaders wanting to get their teams aligned to make the most of their planning for 2025 - nice tips, Kirryn and the workshop option sounds great!

This is a total no brainer for any organisation who wants to get the best from their people.

Philippe Guichard

Transforming Ideas into Million-Dollar Products & ventures: the designer serial entrepreneurs partner with | Talk on TED.com | Product Development & Product Design | Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker

4 周

This workshop is a must. I was watching the interview of a successful serial entrepreneur this week; his number one foundation for each of his businesses was trust.

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