Our Trust Model
This exercise from the 2024 retreat asked participants to bring a personal item that symbolizes trust and share its meaning.
What is the Artifact of Trust exercise.
The 2025 retreat theme is “Weaving the Fabric of Collaboration,” with a focus on tearing down these structural barriers.
What are silos.
Valley Water’s mission is to provide safe, clean water for these three things.
What is a healthy life, environment, and economy.
John C. Maxwell, warned that “a big dream with a bad team” becomes this.
What is a nightmare.
Valley Water operates three of these facilities to treat imported and local reservoir water.
What are water treatment plants.
This element of the 2024 trust model emphasizes treating colleagues fairly, honoring their perspectives, and avoiding criticism when they take risks or share ideas.
What is respect & non-judgement
This day of the week had been nicknamed “Collaboration Day” because everyone is in office.
What is Tuesday.
August is nationally recognized as this awareness month, tied directly to Valley Water’s mission.
What is Water Quality Month.
Teamwork reduces this common workplace feeling by sharing responsibility
What is stress
This exemption saves qualifying seniors about $75 annually on property tax.
What is the Safe, Clean Water Low-Income Senior Parcel Tax Exemption.
This was the assigned pre-work for last year’s retreat, which was themed around trust.
What is the Brené Brown’s podcast — The Anatomy of Trust.
This software tool was introduced to improve collaboration during open enrollment and reduce reliance on spreadsheets.
What is Asana.
According to Valley Water’s values, initiative, leadership, personal development and training are vital for this ongoing process.
What is continuous improvement
Good teamwork is characterized by this quality that ensures team members keep commitments and follow through.
What is reliability/trust.
Valley Water’s Water Quality Unit monitors these “forever chemicals.
What are PFAS.
According to Brené Brown’s BRAVING model, this “V” word means keeping confidences and protecting privacy.
What is the Vault.
According to the Teamwork Makes the Dream Work article, collaboration produces stronger outcomes because it brings together these.
What are diverse perspectives.
Twice a year, Valley Water leaders travel to this city to advocate for federal funding to support sustainable water infrastructure projects.
What is Washington, D.C.
Effective teamwork requires this skill in addressing differences directly without undermining the mission.
What is conflict resolution.
Valley Water manages over this many miles of pipeline, including raw, treated, and recycled water
What is more than 150 miles.
Valley Water’s HR leaders reported: "in the past year, staff has trusted they could ask any department leader for help." This outcome reflects which element of the trust model most strongly?
What is accountability & communication?
During July’s all-hands, the Benefits team modeled collaboration by doing this months before open enrollment
What is asking for help early and often.
Valley Water’s values stress stewardship of these two interconnected systems.
What are natural ecosystems and community systems.
Beyond shared goals and cooperation, the article highlights that great teams thrive on these types of relationships.
What are strong interpersonal relationships.
By 2050, Valley Water’s long-term supply plan commits to meeting 100% of demand in non-drought years and at least this percentage in drought years.
What is eighty-percent.