Lions Coach Gatland's Secret to Success

Warren Gatland took on the ultimate challenge this June/ July- creating a cohesive team from four different teams and taking them Down Under to face the mighty All Blacks.

Avoiding a complete 'Blackwash', Gatland managed to pull off the unthinkable with a series draw. So what is the key to creating a cohesive team?

If you ask Gatland and any successful team the recipe to success, you will hear time and time again a recurring theme- trust. Trust is what you need when the pressure is on and the opposition are camped at your try line.

Trust is not something you can develop in a team overnight and it is important that you spend your time cultivating the right type of trust. There are two types of trust that are key to the success of building a cohesive, successful team: common trust and vulnerability-based trust.

Common Trust: the confidence that a team member won't break generally accepted rules, norms, etc. It is the type of trust that we extend to a driver to know the rules of the road. Without common trust, it would be very difficult to operate as a team (or society). Belonging to the team in the first place typically grants you this type of trust.

Vulnerability-Based Trust: a much deeper confidence that you can be vulnerable with teammates. The belief that you can do things like take risks, ask for help, admit mistakes, or confront and hold others accountable without fear of retaliation, humiliation, or resentment. This type of trust has to be earned and given. Strong, high-performing teams base their entire foundation on vulnerability-based trust. Common trust simply isn't enough.

So, how do you build vulnerability-based trust in your team?

How to Build Trust?

Lead by example: As a leader, it is your job to model the behaviour. Be the first to extend trust to others and take the opportunity to show your team what trust looks like.

Communication: Open communication is essential for building trust. You need to get everyone in your team talking to one another in an honest, meaningful way, whether this be sharing accolades or constructive criticism.

Create a circle of trust: You do this by first treating your team like a team. Give them a sense of belonging, a shared purpose, shared goals, some autonomy, and care for them. People must feel cared for and safe to trust.

Discourage Cliques: Sometimes, cliques can form within a team, often between team members who share common interests, have been in previous teams together and is not an issue that is isolated to ammatuer teams. However, these groups can make others feel isolated and can undermine trust between group members. Preventing the formation of cliques in the first place is the preferred course of action. Encourage open communication and conflict resolution among all of your team. Be upfront on how you want everyone to resolve even minor disagreements.

Whilst Gatland didn't come away with a series win, there is no doubt that he executed his role in creating a cohesive team that believed in themselves and, most importantly, over the course of the tour, Gatland created a team that trusted one another.