The media is calling it a Global Economic Crisis, but when I look around I see a Global TRUST Crisis.
We have simply forgotten how to trust. We have forgotten just how powerful trust is, how quickly it can break down, and the pain and destruction caused by a breakdown of trust.
What we are seeing right now is the consequences of greed, lack of accountability and selfishness of too many business leaders - all stemming from a lack of understanding of just how intricate and finely balanced the trust of all their stakeholders really is. They have broken the trust of the very people they were trusted to serve and lead.
It's time to take a stand. It's time to get a handle on what is really going on here.
If you are a business leader, or you run your own business, become a true leader and learn how to trust and be trusted. It is the true secret to securing your future.
The time to trust is NOW.
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, March 26, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Survival of the trustworthy
Leo D'Angelo Fisher wrote for Australia's Business Review Weekly (BRW) February 5 - 11 2009, a piece on Survival of the Trustworthy, stating that 'Trust is the cornerstone of true leadership and managers who have it can move mountains.' He goes on to say 'Managers and executives who have earned the trust and respect of staff, who are admired for their fairness, empathy and integrity, will be the key to attracting and retaining an organisation's most valuable talent. Let's hope there are enough of these managers to go around.'
I couldn't have put it better myself. I actually know there are very few managers who know how to build trust – the ultimate skill to truly survive these difficult times.
In my experience, having dedicated my business to the sole focus of teaching leaders and individuals about trust, it’s an overused word that is grossly under-practiced.
Right now, organisations are breaking down trust with employees (those being shown the door, but also those left behind), customers, shareholders and the broader community. Understandably, difficult decisions must be made right now, but how those decisions are executed will make or break trust.
What leaders and managers need to remember is that everything cycles – at some point things will turn around and they will be re-hiring. When trust is broken, people hurt, and they tell everyone about it! The reputational risk is massive. The employees who are left have lost trust and respect for the leadership, and customers and shareholders are nervous.
Breaking trust is the easy option, and unfortunately one that too many leaders are choosing as the default. Those who choose to ignore its huge long term impact, do so at their own peril.
Building trust takes courage, skill and an understanding of its duality – its power and its fragility.
It’s trust or bust!
I couldn't have put it better myself. I actually know there are very few managers who know how to build trust – the ultimate skill to truly survive these difficult times.
In my experience, having dedicated my business to the sole focus of teaching leaders and individuals about trust, it’s an overused word that is grossly under-practiced.
Right now, organisations are breaking down trust with employees (those being shown the door, but also those left behind), customers, shareholders and the broader community. Understandably, difficult decisions must be made right now, but how those decisions are executed will make or break trust.
What leaders and managers need to remember is that everything cycles – at some point things will turn around and they will be re-hiring. When trust is broken, people hurt, and they tell everyone about it! The reputational risk is massive. The employees who are left have lost trust and respect for the leadership, and customers and shareholders are nervous.
Breaking trust is the easy option, and unfortunately one that too many leaders are choosing as the default. Those who choose to ignore its huge long term impact, do so at their own peril.
Building trust takes courage, skill and an understanding of its duality – its power and its fragility.
It’s trust or bust!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Website to track promises
I receive a daily Google alert linking me to all published stories about trust, promises, relationships, and so on. When I got this one, I had mixed views.
Link to the full story here http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=50522
Website Tracks President Obama's Promises To The Nation
Reported by: Jackie Cutler
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009 @07:28pm EST
FREDERICK, MD - President Barack Obama has been in office less than a week, and although his presidency is a sign of change, many are wondering how much change he'll really bring.His promises range from more jobs, to better education, to less loopholes for big corporations.In total he's made more than 500 promises, and now a website called politifact.com is helping you keep tabs on all of them.Using an Obameter, the website lists all of the promises, which ones he's kept as well as which promises he's broken.So far President Obama has only kept two: appointing a Republican to his cabinet and changing a capital gains tax law.Still, some in the four-state region say perhaps more important than keeping his promise is the energy his presidency brings.If you would like to keep track of President Obama's promises, click here.
I thought - Ok, that's great that people are actually tracking the promises made by a politician, especially one as influential and critical to the world economy as Obama.
But then I thought - Hmmm. How would I feel if there was a website tracking all MY promises??!!
How would YOU feel?
Link to the full story here http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=50522
Website Tracks President Obama's Promises To The Nation
Reported by: Jackie Cutler
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009 @07:28pm EST
FREDERICK, MD - President Barack Obama has been in office less than a week, and although his presidency is a sign of change, many are wondering how much change he'll really bring.His promises range from more jobs, to better education, to less loopholes for big corporations.In total he's made more than 500 promises, and now a website called politifact.com is helping you keep tabs on all of them.Using an Obameter, the website lists all of the promises, which ones he's kept as well as which promises he's broken.So far President Obama has only kept two: appointing a Republican to his cabinet and changing a capital gains tax law.Still, some in the four-state region say perhaps more important than keeping his promise is the energy his presidency brings.If you would like to keep track of President Obama's promises, click here.
I thought - Ok, that's great that people are actually tracking the promises made by a politician, especially one as influential and critical to the world economy as Obama.
But then I thought - Hmmm. How would I feel if there was a website tracking all MY promises??!!
How would YOU feel?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Good intentions don't build trust
You know the saying "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." What's interesting is when you really think about this. Why is this so?
With the ENP Wall® entente's trust model, I talk about making promises - both implicitly and explicitly. I also talk about expectations and needs. Good intentions, like "we'll catch up", "let's do lunch", "my new year's resolution is to stop smoking", "we should spend more quality time together" - whatever we say to make people or ourselves feel better, are actually promises we're making. They create expectations in people's minds, including our own, and they satisfy our core needs. So, we believe them. We trust them. Unless of course we know it's just talk, in which case we lose even more respect for them every time they say it, including losing respect for ourselves.
Even if the good intentions really were meant, if they don't eventuate, the wall comes crashing down or the trust is chipped away or cracked.
Good intentions don't build trust. Seeing them through, carrying them out, delivering on them - that's what builds trust!
With the ENP Wall® entente's trust model, I talk about making promises - both implicitly and explicitly. I also talk about expectations and needs. Good intentions, like "we'll catch up", "let's do lunch", "my new year's resolution is to stop smoking", "we should spend more quality time together" - whatever we say to make people or ourselves feel better, are actually promises we're making. They create expectations in people's minds, including our own, and they satisfy our core needs. So, we believe them. We trust them. Unless of course we know it's just talk, in which case we lose even more respect for them every time they say it, including losing respect for ourselves.
Even if the good intentions really were meant, if they don't eventuate, the wall comes crashing down or the trust is chipped away or cracked.
Good intentions don't build trust. Seeing them through, carrying them out, delivering on them - that's what builds trust!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
What did we expect?
Trust. Ever increasingly becoming the topic of discussion, and especially in these uncertain and disturbing economic times.
But, I have to ask one question, and we should just think about this for a minute. What were we expecting?
As trust is about relying on people, companies, products and services to deliver an outcome to us, what outcome did we trust in others, in the markets to deliver? What was promised to us that drew us to that place of comfort and trust that made us maybe a little too complacent?
If we are expecting constant and consistent growth with no downside, then we are all in la-la land. There are cycles. Remember, what goes up must come down. Everything ultimately balances out - always. It's the two sides of a coin, the yin-yang. Life is about balance.
Should we expect 'bad' things to happen? No. But I do believe we should expect that sometimes things go well and sometimes not so well.
We should know that ultimately we will be okay - maybe not the way we expect, but our needs will be met, and anyone who promises that things will always be a bed of roses frankly does not deserve to be trusted.
But, I have to ask one question, and we should just think about this for a minute. What were we expecting?
As trust is about relying on people, companies, products and services to deliver an outcome to us, what outcome did we trust in others, in the markets to deliver? What was promised to us that drew us to that place of comfort and trust that made us maybe a little too complacent?
If we are expecting constant and consistent growth with no downside, then we are all in la-la land. There are cycles. Remember, what goes up must come down. Everything ultimately balances out - always. It's the two sides of a coin, the yin-yang. Life is about balance.
Should we expect 'bad' things to happen? No. But I do believe we should expect that sometimes things go well and sometimes not so well.
We should know that ultimately we will be okay - maybe not the way we expect, but our needs will be met, and anyone who promises that things will always be a bed of roses frankly does not deserve to be trusted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)