"Trust is like the air we breathe. When it's present, no one really notices.
When it's absent, everyone notices."
Warren Buffett
I've been certified to teach Stephen M.R. Covey's Speed of Trust, so I had a lot to say.
But as everyone is experiencing Zoom Fatigue, I wanted to keep it sharp, short, and audience-centered.
(Who needs to listen to me blah-blah-blah for three hours? NO ONE! EVER!)
First, we built a case for trust in today's workplace.
A few years ago, research posted in the Harvard Business Review concluded that virtual teammates are 2.5 times more likely to perceive MISTRUST, INCOMPETENCE, and BROKEN COMMITMENTS with remote teammates (vs. in-office).*
Worse yet: It takes them 5 to 10 times longer to address their concerns!
Can you imagine how these numbers have escalated since the pandemic?
Building trust in the workplace is more important now than ever.
Next, we talked about being both trusting and trustworthy, two sides of the same leader's coin.
And then we applied Covey's framework.
Specifically, trust is a combination of two things:
WHAT YOU DO
People want to know their leaders are competent (You are capable and you get results) and
WHO YOU ARE
People want to know their leaders have a strong character (You have integrity and positive intent).
One without the other just doesn't fit the bill. To be our best, we need both.
Imagine a leader who knows everything there is to know about blockchain, for example, but is self-serving and exclusive.
Or how about a leader who is kind and humble but doesn't have a shred of professional expertise?
Neither has the sum of what it takes to be an excellent leader, let alone a teammate.
There is a lot more to say (read Covey's The Speed of Trust!) but for now, here are some reflection questions:
How's your competence? Do you know your job/craft well? Are you a trusted expert? Do you follow procedures and policies? Do you strive to get better?
How's your character? Do you declare your (positive) intention in conversation? Do you do what you say you will do? Do you exhibit your company's (and your own) values?
Building, maintaining, and restoring trust is a process that merits our full attention.
Let's commit to showing up with the utmost competence and stellar character!
mw
Oh, and if that song in this post's title is going through your mind now, you're welcome! Enjoy the 1982 cover video from Fun Boy Three and Bananarama. :)
Photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels
*Joseph Grenny. How to Raise Sensitive Issues During a Remote Meeting. https://hbr.org/2017/03/how-to-raise-sensitive-issues-during-a-virtual-meeting