Trust and Track:
A Better Way to Lead People and Performance
At the Trust and Track Institute, our purpose is to inspire leaders to influence transformation in their organizations by putting their people first.
We are fierce believers that work doesn’t have to suck, and every company can create the type of environment that people actually enjoy working in every day. The kind of culture that supports employees to learn, grow, and be connected to something bigger than themselves – and where high performance comes as a result. ​
How We Got Here
​
What started as a restaurant company making the decision to do things differently and invest in building a purpose-driven culture, has turned into a repeatable model that has helped to transform multiple businesses from the inside-out.
​
And while we wish we coined the term “Trust and Track” ourselves, it was Bo Burlingham, editor of Inc. Magazine and author of the book Small Giants, who came up with the phrase during a visit to one of Nick Sarillo’s (founder of TTI) restaurants.
​
Bo was writing a story on the unique culture Nick and his team had built and the buzz it was creating in the small business community. As he observed daily operations, something stood out; the leaders in the business took the time to share the “why” behind what they needed individual team members to do, and then (with training in place to support them) stepped back and gave them space to execute.
​
“That just requires a ton of trust”, Burlingham said. “But you’re also tracking your employees’ performance, improving their skillsets when they make mistakes. Trust AND track – that's what you’re doing”. The phrase stuck, and it perfectly captured what we had been doing all along.
​
More Than a Framework
​
Trust and Track is more than a framework or theory. It’s a holistic approach to leadership and organizational culture that challenges the traditional command-and-control mindset. It calls on leaders to become coaches. To lead with clarity and compassion. To trust their teams without sacrificing accountability. And to create a workplace where people feel connected to a deeper purpose. One where they’re trusted to do their best work and supported to get better every day.
​
While leadership behaviors are critical to creating that type of environment, we’ve identified a few core elements that are foundational to building a Trust and Track organization (in no particular order):
​
-
Clearly defined organizational Purpose/Mission and Values that are used to guide behaviors and decision-making
-
Emotionally intelligent leaders who communicate with intention and transparency to create psychologically safe environments
-
Feedback processes that are designed to support coaching in the moment and build on the positive
-
Structured approach to training and employee development that reinforces a culture of learning
​
While our work with organizations brings proven structure behind each of the above, it also provides leaders with tangible tools to become better coaches and elevate the performance of their teams.
​
What to Expect From This Blog
​
This blog is our way of sharing what we’ve learned (and what we’re still learning) about operationalizing culture and developing great leaders at every level. You can expect practical insights, tools, and stories focused on:
​
-
Building cultures that support both people and performance
-
Developing front-line and mid-level leaders
-
Creating accountability without fear or micromanagement
-
Leading hourly team members with trust, clarity, and purpose
-
Integrating leadership into the daily rhythm of your business
Whether you're a business owner, HR leader, or people manager, we hope you’ll find this space useful and energizing.
​
We’re glad you’re here. Let’s keep building workplaces worth working in.
Get in Touch
