In several of the courses I've taken for my Master's, several of the professors have described Trust as a bank account. It takes a while to build up a balance of trust, small deposits now and again and eventually you'll have a solid level of trust. However, all of that trust can be withdrawn with, as the book describes, "just a word, just a sentence, or in one action." (p. 121).
This chapter also, not surprisingly, reminded me of the book The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey. In the book, Covey describes the four cores of trust: integrity, intent, capabilities, and results. Throughout this chapter, I saw an echo of the effect that our thoughts, words, actions, and reactions can have on trust. I appreciated this chapter, because, as was mentioned, without trust, a leader cannot hope to be successful.
Some of the key learnings from this chapter that bear repeating:
- You don't have to like or agree with everyone, but you have to respect everyone.
- Say what you mean and mean what you say. Talk the talk AND walk the walk.
- "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
- Avoid gossip! Even seemingly harmless gossip.
- Value others and play to their strengths. This shows you know them well enough to know their strengths and it allows for teamwork.
- Never lie. Just don't do it. It's more work and never ends well. "No comment" is an acceptable thing to say.
- A "perceived betrayal" is as damaging to trust as an actual betrayal.
- If you make a mistake, own it, apologize for it, and then do NOT make the same mistake again.
Kristen,
ReplyDeleteI think the quote, "You don't have to like or agree with everyone, but you have to respect everyone," is so crucial to improving how we live and work as a society. If we all treated each other with respect, our streets would not be taken over by gangs, our jails would not be full of felons, and our children could grow up knowing peace.