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
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 :)
