EFBC Member President’s Message:

Building on Trust

Hello again,

Joel Spencer here, back with the third installment of our President’s Message.

So far, we’ve talked about momentum, the energy that gets us moving, and intention, which gives that movement purpose. This month, I want to talk about something even more foundational, trust.

If you’ve read the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, you know that trust sits at the very bottom of the pyramid. It’s the foundation, and when it’s missing, everything else can break down.

Without trust, we tend to avoid healthy conflict. Without conflict, we get surface-level commitments. And without those commitments, we stop holding each other accountable. And when there’s a lack of accountability, results can suffer.

But let’s be clear. Trust in the team isn’t about being polite or nice. It’s about vulnerability.

A trusted environment is 1 where people can raise concerns, challenge ideas, and speak up without the fear of judgment or backlash. And it’s not from a place of resistance, but from a place of shared ownership. And when people feel heard, even if the final decision isn’t what they hoped for, they’re much more likely to buy in.

That’s where trust begins, and that’s where real teams start to form.

So here’s my challenge for this month. Where is trust strong in your business right now? And where is it fraying? Are there conversations you’ve been avoiding? Tension going unspoken? Are there gaps in communication that need to be addressed?

Trust doesn’t get built in an all-hands meeting or in strategy decks. It gets built in small moments, the honest conversations, the hard feedback, and the willingness to listen.

Trust is a cornerstone of EFBC’s success and a major reason why our forums are so impactful. They give us the space to practice vulnerability, accountability, and have real support.

Do you have that kind of trust in your business?

Let’s keep building momentum. Let’s keep leading with intention, and let’s keep building teams that are rooted in trust.

Thank you all for being a part of this community, and I’ll see you soon.

Joel Spencer
EFBC President 2025-2026