Building Trust using Values

Team Trust & Values Exercise

This exercise can help to build Trust (TPI) in teams, create the team’s collective values and build Values Diversity (TPI)

Resources:
Values card deck – you can buy them online or create your own.
Always make sure you have a number of blank cards or one’s with a ‘?’ so individuals can name their own values.
Make sure you have enough packs for everyone or enough to be able to share a couple of packs across a couple of tables.
If you are working virtually use as slide to show the values, again leaving some space with ‘?’

Step 1
Ask the group to individually select their own top 5 values and rank them in order of most important to them at work.
Ask them to consider:
• Why did you choose each value and how do you measure it?
• How do you demonstrate the value at work?
• How do your values influence the way you behave and make decisions?
• How do your values support or hinder you in your role?

Step 2
As a team ask everyone to take it turns to share their top 5 values and share their answers to the questions above.
Encourage the team to get curious with each other and ask lots of open questions so they fully understand the other person’s values.
For example:
What does ‘Respect’ mean – how is it different to ‘Trust’?
How do you see the difference between ‘Trust’ and ‘Integrity – what does integrity mean to you?
What happens when it isn’t being honored or respected?

De brief
Explain to the team that building trust is about showing vulnerability and also respecting each other’s values. We don’t need to agree with everyone’s values, we need to respect their values and the diversity within the team.

Step 3
Ask the team to look for the values which they have in common. They may use different words to describe or label a value, it’s important for them to understand what the value means rather than getting hung up on the label. Some teams also decide to collectively rename some of the values.

If you have the space, ask the team to use the wall to stick the values up and start a values sorting process
If you are working virtually you can use whiteboards to track and share the common values.
Check if people are willing to let go of some of their own values in their top5 that are not common values for the team and explore the impact of this. Notice what shows up.

Step 4
Coach the team to gain commitment to the common values which will become the team’s values.
Ask them:
• What do these values mean to the team?
• How will the team honor the values?
• How the team hold each other to account?
• How do these values link to the organization’s values / key behaviors?

Remember commitment doesn’t mean consensus.