Building High-Trust Teams: The Two Ingredients That Elevate Performance
What really makes teams perform consistently well - especially when pressure is high?
Why This Matters !!
Most leaders think performance is built on structure and clear goals — and they’re right… but only halfway.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, led by Dr. Robert Waldinger, has shown that the quality of our relationships is one of the strongest predictors of long-term fulfillment and success.
At work, this translates into two essential ingredients for sustainable performance:
Trust – the foundation of strong relationships and effective collaboration.
Strengths – understanding what each team member does best and putting them in the right role to shine.
When these two elements align, teams not only feel better, they perform better — with greater innovation, lower turnover, and higher resilience.
Common Challenges …
Many leaders unintentionally weaken trust or overlook strengths because of:
Unclear intentions. Team members aren’t sure where others stand or what drives their decisions.
Low integrity visibility. People may say the right things but act inconsistently.
Underused talent. Assignments are made based on convenience, not capability.
One-size-fits-all leadership. Strengths go unnoticed because leaders expect everyone to perform the same way.
The result? Teams that work hard but not smart. Frustration replaces flow, and potential goes untapped.
What To Do Instead 👍🏻
Start by simplifying your leadership recipe.
Focus on two daily habits that multiply trust and performance:
Build Trust Intentionally
Be clear about your motives. Let people know why decisions are made.
Acknowledge mistakes — and show how you’ll correct them.
Recognize others publicly for small wins that demonstrate shared values.
Keep your word. Integrity compounds faster than any strategy.
Play to Strengths
Ask open-ended questions to uncover what energizes each person.
“When do you feel you’re doing your best work?”
“What part of your role do you find most fulfilling?”
Pair complementary strengths in projects — like balancing creativity with precision, or vision with execution.
Celebrate different working styles — they are the team’s superpower.
Remember, you don’t need a big budget or formal “team-building” days.
The most powerful trust builders are the daily moments when people feel seen, valued, and supported for who they are.
Download my Free Reflection Guide to help you discover the health of your team’s relationships here 👉 : https://www.coachjessicabonilla.com/fit-to-lead-free-guides-form-1
With open-ended questions you can use it as a guide in 1:1s or team sessions.
It’s quick, actionable, and a great starting point to build stronger, more aligned teams.