Mutual trust and safety for
teams
The simple (not easy) recipe

Antti Kirjavainen @anttiki
Scan-Agile 2017

http://flowa.fi/ @FlowaWolf
Antti who?
Widespread experience
of mutual trust in teams
And lack thereof:
•  Embarrassment,
•  Insecurity,
•  Losing morale etc.
Say hello to
the person next to you
Let’s share experiences
•  Share a story about when you saw lack of
trust in a team (or at another work-
related context)
•  What effect did that have on the work?
•  Take turns, we have 4 minutes J
Safety and trust are
crucial for a team’s
performance
LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT CREATING
SAFE SPACES
But HOW?
No safety
Safety
Mutual trust
Answers from Agile
•  Shared purpose,
•  Working agreements,
•  Communication,
•  Listening,
•  Engagement,
•  Celebrate failure/learning,
•  Retrospective prime directive,
•  XP (or Scrum) values etc.
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Shared purpose
Working agreements
Celebrate failure
Listening
Communication
Engagement
Courage
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Courage
Safety and trust is built from
individual level
through 1-on-1 interactions
BY THE WAY: MOST OF THE STUFF I
TALK ABOUT IS INVITATION-BASED
Don’t make people do this stuff because you say so, okay?
ME – INDIVIDUAL
Image by Hans Bernhard CC-BY-SA-2.0
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Courage
What is courage?
Photo by Eric Kilby CC-BY-SA-2.0
Do I get my courage from this box?
The Arbinger Institute: Anatomy of Peace
Or this?
The Arbinger Institute: Anatomy of Peace
Or this?
The Arbinger Institute: Anatomy of Peace
Courage to be vulnerable
Photo by Elie-Alban Lescout CC-BY-SA-3.0
How to get out of these boxes?
In the box:
•  See others as objects
•  Others less real
•  My needs matter more
•  Resist others’ humanity
Mind at War
Outside of the box:
•  See others as people
•  Others just as real
•  Their needs matter as
much
•  Respond to others’
humanity
Mind at Peace
The Arbinger Institute: Anatomy of Peace
HOW TO GROW YOUR COURAGE TO
BE VULNERABLE?
Identity
Intention
Let’s share more stories!
Share your story of growing self-
esteem and courage
•  Tell about something that had a positive
effect on your self-image or self-esteem
•  You can also relate a story about
someone you know (keep confidentiality
in mind)
•  How did it help that person to be more
vulnerable?
•  Take turns, we have 4 minutes in total J
Reflecting on your influences
Sharing your personal story in a
safe environment
Temenos
Flow
Lewitz & Neidhardt: Showing Up!
http://www.trusttemenos.de/
@TrustTemenos
Mindfulness
•  Has been reported in studies to support
high self-esteem
•  Can help dealing with uncertainties,
anxieties etc.
•  http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/84/4/822/
Safe experiments of being
vulnerable
•  Practice saying NO
•  Share a mistake you’ve made with a
colleague
•  Ask for help when you don’t fully
understand something
•  See more on Amr Elssamadisy’s blog/vlog:
https://samadisy.com/2017/01/22/how-to-create-
psychological-safety/
HOW TO HELP GROW OTHERS’
COURAGE TO BE VULNERABLE?
Identity
Intention
Me
You –
Interactions
We
One-on-one
Interactions
Courage to be
vulnerable
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Courage 
to be
vulnerable
One-on-one
Interactions
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Courage 
to be
vulnerable
One-on-one
Interactions
Honesty
Candidness
Feedback
Authenticity
You want authentic? And candid? Okay,
I’ll level with all y’all once and for all
Remember these?
The Arbinger Institute: Anatomy of Peace
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Courage 
to be
vulnerable
One-on-one
Interactions
Awareness
Listening
Attention
Respect

Honesty
Candidness
Feedback
Authenticity
Check-ins: Give space for sharing
context, emotions
Photo by Ricardo André Frantz CC-BY-SA 3.0
Check-in protocol
•  ”Hello! I’m {one or more of
[GLAD,
MAD,
SAD,
AFRAID]}.
•  [Share details if you want].
•  ”I’m in!” or ”I Pass”
•  Others: ”Welcome!”
https://liveingreatness.com/core-protocols/check-in/
Let’s try it out!
Check-in protocol
•  ”Hello! I’m { one or more of
[GLAD, 
 
(I have energy)
MAD, 
 
(My needs are not met)
SAD, 
 
 
(My thoughts are elsewhere)
AFRAID]}. 
(I’m uncertain)
•  [Share details if you want]
•  ”I’m in!” or ”I Pass”
•  Other(s): ”Welcome!”
https://liveingreatness.com/core-protocols/check-in/
Share stories on vulnerability
http://www.happymelly.com/how-build-trust-in-workplace/ http://www.360stories.one/
RESPECT IS ABOUT TAKING
RESPONSIBILITY IN THE TEAM
As well as taking responsibility of your own emotions and
actions
Christopher Avery
@ChristopherAver

Ari Tanninen
@aritanninen
ATTENTIVE, RESPECTFUL FEEDBACK
Separate your observations, emotions, needs and requests
Empathetic Communication
Observation
 Emotion
 Need
 Request
Non-violent communication
@ilmirajat
@markotaipale
@karhatsu
http://flowa.fi/blog/2015/03/18/nvc-speed-dating-kata.html
Now some serious war stories!
Let’s share war stories
•  Share a story about when
communication in a team improved
•  What kind of things influenced this
improvement?
•  Take turns, we have 4 minutes
Not tolerating harmful behaviour!
SO, TO WRAP IT ALL UP
Me
You –
Interactions
We
Courage 
to be
vulnerable
One-on-one
Interactions
Awareness
Listening
Attention
Respect

Honesty
Candidness
Feedback
Authenticity
You can reach me at…
•  Email: antti@flowa.fi
•  Twitter: @anttiki
•  Website: http://flowa.fi/ 
•  Management 3.0:
http://flowa.fi/management30/
•  Beyond Agile:
http://flowa.fi/beyondagile/
We are running a survey on safety
in teams
•  We want to help the community by
collecting data and publishing a report
•  Please take part: http://tiny.cc/safetyfi
Are you interested in having
Temenos in Helsinki?
•  We will run the first retreat this summer
•  If you are interested, please email me at
antti@flowa.fi

The simple (not easy) recipe of mutual trust for teams