Working with people who think, feel, and see things differently can be both stressful and anxiety producing. Unless a foundation of trust exists, those working under arduous conditions are likely to harbor negative feelings that may dampen their desire to collaborate. The Tenets of Teamwork described below provide the guidelines for building trust-based relationships

Collaborative Spirit: Believe more can be accomplished working together than alone.

Something heartwarming and emotionally uplifting happens when a team of individuals completes a difficult task that none of them could have accomplished without the others. A collaborative spirit emerges that was not there before. Their desire to continue building the relationship increases and they all feel motivated to aim higher on the next project.

Common Purpose: Work on the same things at the same time for the same reasons.

Problem solving and decision-making are two separate functions. Working simultaneously on both creates confusion and diverts attention. Without first establishing a common purpose, much time and energy could be expended arguing over who is right and who is wrong, which increases the chances of mistakes being made or resources being wasted.

Mutual Respect: Accept and value what others bring to the relationship.

Everyone brings to the team a unique perspective of how the work should be accomplished, which could not possibly be understood or accepted until all are willing to share what they know or believe without fear of contradiction. The objective at the point of disclosure is to respect the differing viewpoints and not try to persuade others to change their minds.

Productive Communication: Clarify the intentions and expectations of those involved.

Whenever contact is made, communication occurs. Even silence sends a clear message. The challenge in building trust is to communicate in a manner that declares the intended outcome and leaves no doubt as to what can be expected. Functional relationships thrive on the mutual assurance that all promises will be kept and all commitments will be fulfilled.

Neutral Attitude: When conflict arises take no action until the whole story is known.

Disagreements provide a natural opportunity for individuals to recognize their differences. When a discord occurs, strive first to establish a clear understanding of what is blocking the way forward. Start searching for additional information to help clarify the ambiguity and/or challenge the inconsistency before deciding on a course of action. If the conflict persists and cannot be resolved quickly, set it aside for now so as not to disrupt the workflow.