Illustration of the Trust Stage

Connection, Trust and Accountability

The Trust Stage: Respect/Safety, Accountability, and Personal Connection.

At this stage, teams rise and fall together. When any teammate thrives, everyone benefits. When someone fails, the whole team suffers. The symptoms of struggle in the Trust Stage include a breakdown of psychological safety, tolerance of disrespect, lack of accountability and weak interpersonal connections.

Key Pain Points and Blind Spots

Key Pain Point Blind Spot
Undercurrent of disrespectDysfunctional or toxic exchange is tolerated
Lack of accountabilityTasks have inconsistent follow-through or team norms/mission are violated
Lack of connectionTeammates seem cautious, distant, or guarded