The pitfall of saying “it all starts with trust”.
"It all starts with trust" has quickly become a management slogan, and in part, it makes sense. Great leaders are those who can instill a sense of trust in their teams. Because, trust helps to overcome challenges, commit to a shared ambition, and deliver exceptional results.
But here's the pitfall. It actually does not start with trust.
To trust someone, to perceive someone as trustworthy, you assess that person on three dimensions:
(1) Competence: do they deliver as promised?
(2) Integrity: do they consistently live up to the values we have set for ourselves?
(3) Benevolence: do we see the other person as kind and caring?
So, how can it all start with trust if you still need to clarify the team goal and the required roles to succeed? For example, you might have a group of friendly people, but only a few have the relevant skills to deliver results.
The order should be re-arranged.
Team performance starts with a clear team mission and the right people to deliver exceptional results. Then, you can vigorously strengthen trust so the team can optimally achieve the mission.