Reader 19
When Teamwork Depends on Trust
Teamwork depends on more than dividing tasks between people. It also depends on trust. A team may have clear roles, strong skills, and a good plan, but still struggle if people do not believe they can rely on one another. Trust affects how openly people share information, how quickly they speak up about problems, and how willing they are to accept help. When trust is weak, people may hold back, double-check everything, or avoid honest conversations because they are afraid of being blamed. This slows the work down and creates tension that may not be visible at first. People may still attend meetings and complete assignments, but the team is not working smoothly. The real issue is that cooperation becomes harder when people are unsure of one another’s intentions.
Trust is built through repeated actions, not promises alone. A person builds trust by following through, admitting mistakes, giving clear updates, and treating others with respect when pressure rises. These actions show that the person can be counted on when the work becomes difficult. Trust does not mean people never question each other or never disagree. In fact, healthy trust makes honest disagreement easier because people believe the purpose is to improve the work, not attack the person. A strong team can handle pressure better because people are not wasting energy protecting themselves from each other. They can focus on the task, share responsibility, and solve problems with less fear. When trust is present, teamwork becomes more than working side by side; it becomes working with confidence in one another.
SPEAK
Answer the questions in complete thoughts. Use evidence from the article when possible.
What is the main argument of the article?
Why can a skilled team still struggle without trust?
What happens when people hold back information?
How is trust built through repeated actions?
Do you think trust is more important than skill in teamwork? Explain with support from the reading
WRITE
Write one strong paragraph explaining this idea and feel free to use the article to support your answer.
Trust helps a team work better because people can share information and handle problems more openly.
VOCABULARY
Review the vocabulary from this reader. Which words are new to you? List the new words and write a short meaning or example for each one.
teamwork
rely on
hold back
double-check
tension
intentions
follow through
counted on
disagreement
accountability
LISTEN
Listen to the recording and respond.
What did the speaker say?
How do you respond to the speaker’s opinion?
Use the reading to support your response.
