I saw this article the other day (see http://blogs.cjonline.com/index.php?entry=6391) that caught my eye. Why do we feel that trusting others is risky?
The whole thing about trust is that is all about our ability to rely on others (and sometimes its about relying on ourselves). If we are relying on others and they let us down, the response can go from mild disappointment to full-on violence, and the response is largely dependent on how important the whole thing was to us, and whether we come from a blind trust or a sceptical trust base.
What we often do, though, is we trust others without telling them:
1. that we are, in fact, trusting them, relying on them
2. what we are trusting in them to do
3. how important that is to us
If we don't articulate these things, then the risk is huge. If we do take the time to articulate these things, we also give the other person the opportunity to let us know if they want to take that on. Can they truly promise to deliver that for you? If not, then you're trusting the wrong person.
Trust is a two way thing, and some of us will blindly trust and often be let down, others will hold back from trusting others and will miss out on great opportunities and wonderful relationships.
Yes, trusting others can be risky, but as they say in financial cirles, the greater the risk, the greater the return! Just make sure you communicate first!
This blog has moved to truthabouttrust.blogspot.com.au and covers a huge range of aspects of trust - from trust in organisations, trust in families and trust in communities. Come and join me there :)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Rudd keeps his promises
I've always found it interesting that there are so many pre-election promises made. We know why they are made - because the more a certain party's promises appeal to us, the more likely we are to vote for that party.
In Rudd's case, he appears to be doing a pretty good job so far in keeping those promises (see http://news.theage.com.au/rudd-outlines-progress-on-promises/20080213-1s3a.html).
What makes any politician or political party think they can make promises and then not keep them? Core or non-core!
My company, Entente Pty Limited (http://www.entente.com.au/) ran a survey across Australia in 2006 to find out, amongst other things, what was the key to building trust. Entente's model for trust focusses on 3 core things - managing expectations, meeting needs and keeping promises. Of these three things, keeping promises came out way on top.
When promises are made by another person, company (or in this case, political party) product or service, we subconsciously make a connection between the promises made and the needs that we have (be they basic needs for survival, for safety and security, for health, education, affordable housing, etc). If the promises made sound like they are going to meet our needs, we then expect those things to happen, and we place our trust in that person, company, party, product or service.
When the promises are broken, as they often are, our trust also breaks down. When trust breaks down, we usually choose to go somewhere else, use a different product, or vote for a new party.
Let's hope, for Rudd's sake, that he continues his run and keeps honouring those promises. I did send him a copy of my book 'The truth about trust in business' in the hope that he reads it - fingers crossed!
Vanessa
In Rudd's case, he appears to be doing a pretty good job so far in keeping those promises (see http://news.theage.com.au/rudd-outlines-progress-on-promises/20080213-1s3a.html).
What makes any politician or political party think they can make promises and then not keep them? Core or non-core!
My company, Entente Pty Limited (http://www.entente.com.au/) ran a survey across Australia in 2006 to find out, amongst other things, what was the key to building trust. Entente's model for trust focusses on 3 core things - managing expectations, meeting needs and keeping promises. Of these three things, keeping promises came out way on top.
When promises are made by another person, company (or in this case, political party) product or service, we subconsciously make a connection between the promises made and the needs that we have (be they basic needs for survival, for safety and security, for health, education, affordable housing, etc). If the promises made sound like they are going to meet our needs, we then expect those things to happen, and we place our trust in that person, company, party, product or service.
When the promises are broken, as they often are, our trust also breaks down. When trust breaks down, we usually choose to go somewhere else, use a different product, or vote for a new party.
Let's hope, for Rudd's sake, that he continues his run and keeps honouring those promises. I did send him a copy of my book 'The truth about trust in business' in the hope that he reads it - fingers crossed!
Vanessa
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